Effects of hospital pharmacist interventions on health outcomes in older polymedicated inpatients: a scoping review.

PURPOSE: To identify the evidence that supports the effect of interventions made by hospital pharmacists, individually or in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, in terms of healthcare outcomes, a more effective utilization of resources and lower costs in older polymedicated inpatients. METHODS: We searched the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library. We also conducted a hand search by checking the references cited in the primary studies and studies included in reviews identified during the process of research. Four review authors working by pairs searched for studies, extracted data, and drew up the results tables. RESULTS: Twenty-six studies were included in the review. In 13 of them pharmacists carried out their intervention exclusively while the patients were in hospital, whereas in 13 interventions were delivered during admission and after hospital discharge. Outcomes identified were mortality, length of stay, visits to the emergency department, readmissions and reported quality of life, among others. Pharmacist interventions were found to be beneficial in fifteen studies, specifically on hospital readmissions, visits to the emergency department and healthcare costs. CONCLUSION: There is no hard evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of hospital pharmacist interventions in older polymedicated patients. Mortality does not show as a relevant outcome. Other health care outcomes, such as hospital readmissions, visits to the emergency department and healthcare costs, seem to be more relevant and amenable to change. Interventions that include pharmacists in multidisciplinary geriatric teams seem to be more promising that isolated pharmacist interventions. Interventions prolonged after hospital discharge seem to be more appropriate that interventions delivered only during hospital admission. Better-designed studies should be conducted in the future to provide further insight into the effect of hospital pharmacist interventions.

Alteración cardíaca en profesional sanitario con SARS-Cov2 tratado con hidroxicloroquina / Heart disorders in the context of hydroxychloroquine treatment for SARS-Cov2: a case report

Presentamos el caso clínico de una profesional sanitaria que ha sufrido una probable reacción adversa por hidroxicloroquina en el tratamiento dirigido para el SARS-Cov2. La paciente estuvo en tratamiento con hidroxicloroquina, azitromicina y cefditoreno y tras finalizar el tratamiento presentó alteraciones cardiovasculares tales como insuficiencia cardíaca y taquicardias. En el momento actual parece que el balance beneficio-riesgo es desfavorable al uso de la hidroxicloroquina en el tratamiento de la enfermedad por SARS-Cov2

We present the clinical case of a healthcare professional who has suffered a probable adverse reaction by hydroxychloroquine in the targeted treatment for SARS-Cov2. The patient was treated with hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, and cefditoren, and after completing the treatment, she had cardiovascular disorders such as heart failure and tachycardia. At present, the benefit-risk balance appears to be unfavorable to the use of hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of SARS-Cov2 disease

Mejorando la prescripción de medicamentos en las personas mayores: una nueva edición de los criterios STOPP-START / Improving drug prescribing in the elderly: A new edition of STOPP/START criteria

La utilización inapropiada de los medicamentos en los pacientes mayores tiene graves consecuencias en su salud —aumento del riesgo de sufrir reacciones adversas o síndromes geriátricos, mayor morbimortalidad— y en el sistema sanitario —aumento de costes, estancias hospitalarias excesivas. Para detectar y prevenir la utilización inadecuada de fármacos se está imponiendo progresivamente el uso de criterios explícitos, que pueden usarse dentro de la evaluación geriátrica exhaustiva o como parte de la actuación de diversos equipos multidisciplinares geriátricos. Los criterios STOPP-START, publicados por vez primera en 2008 (y en español en 2009), se están imponiendo como criterios de referencia en el ámbito europeo. Se presenta aquí la versión en español de la nueva edición (2014) de estos criterios, recientemente publicados en inglés. Además, se revisan en este artículo las publicaciones que han usado la versión inicial de los criterios STOPP-START en España desde su aparición, con la intención de fomentar su utilización e investigación en los distintos niveles asistenciales (AU)

Inappropriate use of drugs in older patients may have an adverse impact on several individual health outcomes, such as increasing the prevalence of adverse drug reactions, morbidity and mortality, and geriatric syndromes, as well as on health care systems, such as increased costs and longer hospital stays. Explicit criteria of drug appropriateness are increasingly used to detect and prevent inappropriate use of drugs, either within a comprehensive geriatric assessment or as tool used by different multidisciplinary geriatric teams. STOPP-START criteria, first published in 2008 (in Spanish in 2009), are being adopted as reference criteria throughout Europe. The Spanish version of the new 2014 edition (recently published in English) of the STOPP-START criteria is presented here. A review of all the papers published in Spain using the former version of these criteria is also presented, with the intention of promoting their use and for research in different health care levels (AU)

[Improving drug prescribing in the elderly: a new edition of STOPP/START criteria]. / Mejorando la prescripción de medicamentos en las personas mayores: una nueva edición de los criterios STOPP-START.

Inappropriate use of drugs in older patients may have an adverse impact on several individual health outcomes, such as increasing the prevalence of adverse drug reactions, morbidity and mortality, and geriatric syndromes, as well as on health care systems, such as increased costs and longer hospital stays. Explicit criteria of drug appropriateness are increasingly used to detect and prevent inappropriate use of drugs, either within a comprehensive geriatric assessment or as tool used by different multidisciplinary geriatric teams. STOPP-START criteria, first published in 2008 (in Spanish in 2009), are being adopted as reference criteria throughout Europe. The Spanish version of the new 2014 edition (recently published in English) of the STOPP-START criteria is presented here. A review of all the papers published in Spain using the former version of these criteria is also presented, with the intention of promoting their use and for research in different health care levels.

Impacto de las alertas interactivas modales en la prescripción informatizada de ácido valproico y meropenem / Effect of modal computer-based alerts on the prescription of valproic acid and meropenem

Objetivo: Analizar el impacto de las alertas interactivas modales en la incidencia de la prescripción concomitante de ácido valproico (AVP) y meropenem. Material y método: Estudio analítico de intervención desarrollado en un hospital de tercer nivel de 11 meses de duración. Se seleccionaron aquellos pacientes ingresados con diagnóstico de epilepsia y en tratamiento con AVP y meropenem de forma concomitante. En el sistema de prescripción electrónica asistida se incluyó una alerta modal para que avisase al médico cuando se prescribiese de forma conjunta el AVP y meropenem. Para medir el impacto de esta alerta se compararon los resultados obtenidos con los de un periodo anterior en el que la alerta era no modal. Resultados: El número de pacientes en tratamiento concomitante con AVP y meropenen disminuyó de 13 a 4 pacientes (p = 0,046). Sin embargo, disminuyeron el número de peticiones de niveles de AVP y aumentó el número medio de días conjuntos de prescripción de 4,7 a 8,75. Conclusiones: La implementación de alertas modales disminuye la exposición de los pacientes al tratamiento concomitante de meropenem y AVP (AU)

Objective: To analyze the effect of modal computer-based alerts on the concomitant prescription of valproic acid (VPA) and meropenem. Material and method: Analytical intervention study conducted in a tertiary hospital for eleven months. Hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of epilepsy and treated with VPA and meropenem in concomitant therapy were included. In the computerized prescription order entry software an automatic non-modal alert was reconverted to a modal one. This was triggered when the physician introduced VPA and meropenem together in the same prescription. To measure the effect of this alert the prescription habits were compared with a previous period in which the alert was not modal. Results: Modal computer-based alert modified the prescription habit by reducing the number of patients with concomitant treatment from 13 to 4 (P = 0.046). However, it was notable that the number of requests for VPA serum levels decreased, and the average number of concomitant days of treatment rose from 4.7 to 8.75 in those patients in which none of the drugs was suspended. Conclusions: The implementation of modal computer-based alerts reduces patient exposure to concomitant treatment with meropenem and VPA (AU)

[Effect of modal computer-based alerts on the prescription of valproic acid and meropenem]. / Impacto de las alertas interactivas modales en la prescripción informatizada de ácido valproico y meropenem.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of modal computer-based alerts on the concomitant prescription of valproic acid (VPA) and meropenem. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Analytical intervention study conducted in a tertiary hospital for eleven months. Hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of epilepsy and treated with VPA and meropenem in concomitant therapy were included. In the computerized prescription order entry software an automatic non-modal alert was reconverted to a modal one. This was triggered when the physician introduced VPA and meropenem together in the same prescription. To measure the effect of this alert the prescription habits were compared with a previous period in which the alert was not modal. RESULTS: Modal computer-based alert modified the prescription habit by reducing the number of patients with concomitant treatment from 13 to 4 (P=.046). However, it was notable that the number of requests for VPA serum levels decreased, and the average number of concomitant days of treatment rose from 4.7 to 8.75 in those patients in which none of the drugs was suspended. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of modal computer-based alerts reduces patient exposure to concomitant treatment with meropenem and VPA.

Síndrome de la orina morada en bolsa en paciente anciana con suplementos nutricionales / Purple urine bag syndrome in elderly woman with nutritional supplements

El síndrome de la orina morada en bolsa es una entidad poco frecuente que afecta característicamente a mujeres de edad avanzada con sondaje vesical prolongado y debilitadas por enfermedades crónicas. La presencia de patología urológica previa, el encamamiento prolongado y el estreñimiento crónico son factores predisponentes. El color morado de la orina se debe a la presencia de elevadas concentraciones de bacterias con actividad indoxilsulfatasa/fosfatasa que se desarrollan en un ambiente alcalino en presencia de otros factores. En el caso que presentamos la administración de suplementos nutricionales ricos en triptófano tuvieron un papel relevante en la generación de este síndrome (AU)

The purple urine bag syndrome is a rare entity which typically affects elderly women with prolonged urinary catheterization and weakening chronic diseases. Other predisposing factors are previous urologic pathology, immobility syndrome and chronic constipation. The purple color is due to the presence of high loads of bacteria with sulphatase - phosphatase activity which develop in an alkaline environment as well as the presence of other factors. In the case we present the administration of nutritional supplements containing tryptophan conditioned the generation of this syndrome (AU)

Análisis de la interacción ácido valproico-meropenem en pacientes hospitalizados / Analysis of the valproic acid-meropenem interaction in hospitalised patients

Introducción: Existen referencias en la literatura acerca de la gravedad de la interacción entre el ácido valproico y el meropenem. Sin embargo, las recomendaciones en cuanto a su manejo son contradictorias, recomendándose en algunos estudios la monitorización más estrecha del antiepiléptico si se emplean juntos y en otros contraindicando su uso concomitante. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la interacción entre el ácido valproico y el meropenem y evaluar el impacto de la intervención farmacéutica sobre la utilización de estos fármacos en pacientes hospitalizados. Material y métodos: Estudio de la prescripción concomitante de ácido valproico y meropenem en un hospital de tercer nivel de 1.080 camas dividido en dos periodos: uno retrospectivo y observacional, el otro prospectivo y con intervención farmacéutica. Se compararon los hábitos de prescripción entre ambos periodos. Resultados: Un total de 26 pacientes recibieron ácido valproico y meropenem simultáneamente (13 en cada periodo), no alcanzando ninguno niveles terapéuticos del antiepiléptico durante el tratamiento. La intervención farmacéutica cambió los hábitos de prescripción, disminuyendo a la mitad los días de tratamiento concomitante, cambiando la antibioterapia y/o monitorizando más estrechamente el antiepiléptico. Conclusiones: La interacción entre el ácido valproico y el meropenem es grave, especialmente por la rapidez con la que disminuyen los niveles del antiepiléptico. Se debe evitar el uso concomitante de ambos fármacos, sustituyendo la antibioterapia de manera empírica o según los patrones de resistencia del microorganismo para mantener el mismo tratamiento anticomicial (AU)

Introduction: Published data demonstrate a serious interaction between valproic acid and meropenem. However, recommendations about the management of concomitant treatment are contradictory; some experts recommend closer monitoring of valproic acid serum concentrations and others recommend avoiding concurrent therapy. The purpose of this study is to critically analyse the interaction and to evaluate the impact of pharmaceutical intervention in the use of these drugs in hospitalised patients. Material and methods: Study of the concomitant prescription of valproic acid and meropenem in a general hospital of 1,080 beds divided in to two periods; the first period was retrospective and observational and it was followed by a prospective period involving pharmaceutical intervention. The prescription habits between both periods were compared. Results: A total of 26 patients received concurrent treatment with valproic acid and meropenem (13 per period) and none of them maintained therapeutic serum levels of the antiepileptic drug. Pharmaceutical intervention modified prescription habits, reducing by half the number of days of concomitant treatment, changing the antibiotherapy and/or monitoring serum concentrations more often. Conclusions: The interaction between valproic acid and meropenem is serious, especially because of the dramatic decrease in the antiepileptic serum concentrations. The concomitant use of both drugs should be avoided, replacing the antibiotherapy empirically, or according to the resistance profiles of the microorganism and maintaining the same the anti-epileptic treatment (AU)

[Purple urine bag syndrome in elderly woman with nutritional supplements]. / Síndrome de la orina morada en bolsa en paciente anciana con suplementos nutricionales.

The purple urine bag syndrome is a rare entity which typically affects elderly women with prolonged urinary catheterization and weakening chronic diseases. Other predisposing factors are previous urologic pathology, immobility syndrome and chronic constipation. The purple color is due to the presence of high loads of bacteria with sulphatase--phosphatase activity which develop in an alkaline environment as well as the presence of other factors. In the case we present the administration of nutritional supplements containing tryptophan conditioned the generation of this syndrome.

[Analysis of the valproic acid-meropenem interaction in hospitalised patients]. / Análisis de la interacción ácido valproico-meropenem en pacientes hospitalizados.

INTRODUCTION: Published data demonstrate a serious interaction between valproic acid and meropenem. However, recommendations about the management of concomitant treatment are contradictory; some experts recommend closer monitoring of valproic acid serum concentrations and others recommend avoiding concurrent therapy. The purpose of this study is to critically analyse the interaction and to evaluate the impact of pharmaceutical intervention in the use of these drugs in hospitalised patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study of the concomitant prescription of valproic acid and meropenem in a general hospital of 1,080 beds divided in to two periods; the first period was retrospective and observational and it was followed by a prospective period involving pharmaceutical intervention. The prescription habits between both periods were compared. RESULTS: A total of 26 patients received concurrent treatment with valproic acid and meropenem (13 per period) and none of them maintained therapeutic serum levels of the antiepileptic drug. Pharmaceutical intervention modified prescription habits, reducing by half the number of days of concomitant treatment, changing the antibiotherapy and/or monitoring serum concentrations more often. CONCLUSIONS: The interaction between valproic acid and meropenem is serious, especially because of the dramatic decrease in the antiepileptic serum concentrations. The concomitant use of both drugs should be avoided, replacing the antibiotherapy empirically, or according to the resistance profiles of the microorganism and maintaining the same the anti-epileptic treatment.

Análisis de errores de la prescripción manual comparados con la prescripción electrónica asistida en pacientes traumatológicos / Analysis of Errors in Manual Versus Electronic Prescriptions in Trauma Patients

Objetivo Detectar, cuantificar y comparar los errores de medicación producidos con un sistema de prescripción manual frente a un sistema de prescripción electrónica asistida en la fase de prescripción. Método Estudio prospectivo, descriptivo y observacional en dos unidades de hospitalización de traumatología de un hospital general; una con prescripción manual y otra con prescripción electrónica asistida. Se han valorado los errores de prescripción. Resultados Se analizaron 1.536 líneas de tratamiento (393 hojas de tratamiento) de 164 pacientes. Con la prescripción manual se detectaron un 19,54% de errores frente al 9,14% ocasionados con la prescripción electrónica asistida. Los errores de omisión fueron significativamente menores con la prescripción electrónica asistida, principalmente los producidos con fármacos pertenecientes al grupo del sistema nervioso central. Conclusiones Al informatizar la prescripción han descendido un 53% los errores de prescripción. Los errores que más se corrigen son los de omisión, al hacerse la prescripción de manera más completa; y fue destacable la disminución de errores en los fármacos del grupo del sistema nervioso central (AU)

Objective To detect, quantify, and compare the medication error produced with manual versus electronically assisted prescription systems. Methods A descriptive, observational, prospective study in two traumatology hospitalisation units; one with manual prescriptions and the other with electronically assisted prescriptions. Prescription errors were determined. Results We analysed 1536 lines of treatment (393 treatment forms) from 164 patients. With manual prescriptions, we detected errors in 19.54% of cases, compared to 9.4% in electronically assisted prescriptions. Omission errors were significantly lower with electronically assisted prescriptions, especially with drugs that act upon the central nervous system. Conclusions Prescription error has decreased by 53% since computerising the prescription process. This is particularly useful for omission errors, as prescription is more complete. The decrease in error regarding drugs that act on the central nervous system stands out(AU)

[Analysis of errors in manual versus electronic prescriptions in trauma patients]. / Análisis de errores de la prescripción manual comparados con la prescripción electrónica asistida en pacientes traumatológicos.

OBJECTIVE: To detect, quantify, and compare the medication error produced with manual versus electronically assisted prescription systems. METHODS: A descriptive, observational, prospective study in two traumatology hospitalisation units; one with manual prescriptions and the other with electronically assisted prescriptions. Prescription errors were determined. RESULTS: We analysed 1,536 lines of treatment (393 treatment forms) from 164 patients. With manual prescriptions, we detected errors in 19.54% of cases, compared to 9.4% in electronically assisted prescriptions. Omission errors were significantly lower with electronically assisted prescriptions, especially with drugs that act upon the central nervous system. CONCLUSIONS: Prescription error has decreased by 53% since computerising the prescription process. This is particularly useful for omission errors, as prescription is more complete. The decrease in error regarding drugs that act on the central nervous system stands out.