Characterizing Antibiotic Regimen Modification Behavior, Patient Characteristics, and Outcomes for Patients with Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections, A Retrospective Single-Center Study.

Few studies describe the frequency of antibiotic regimen modification behaviors in the acute care setting. We sought to ascertain patient and treatment characteristics, details of regimen modification, and clinical outcomes with antibiotic modifications. This retrospective study included patients admitted to Hoag Memorial Hospital from 1 January 2019-31 March 2021 with a complicated infection caused by a Gram-negative organism resistant to extended-spectrum cephalosporins or with the potential for resistance (AmpC producers). A total of 400 patients were included. The predominant sources were bloodstream (33%), urine (26%), and respiratory (24%), including patients with multiple sources. The most isolated organisms were Pseudomonas spp. and ESBL-producing organisms, 38% and 34%, respectively. A total of 72% of patients had antibiotic regimen modifications to their inpatient antibiotic regimens. In patients where modifications occurred, the number ranged from one to six modifications. The most common reasons for modifications included a lack of patient response (14%), additional history reviewed (9%), and decompensation (7%). No difference in clinical outcomes was observed based on antibiotic modifications. The numerous changes in therapy observed may reflect the limitations in identifying patients with resistant organisms early on in admission. This highlights the need for more novel antibiotics and the importance of identifying patients at risk for resistant organisms.

Real-world Evaluation of Imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam across US Medical Centers.

We assessed 160 patients who received imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam for ≥2 days. At treatment initiation, median Charlson Comorbidity Index was 5, 45% were in the intensive care unit, and 19% required vasopressor support. The in-hospital mortality rate was 24%. These data advance our understanding of real-world indications and outcomes of imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam use.

Incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and its impact on patient outcomes among adult hospitalized patients with carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative infections who received targeted treatment with a newer ß-lactam or ß-lactam/ß-lactamase inhibitor-, polymyxin- or aminoglycoside-containing regimen.

BACKGROUND: Limited comparative data exist on acute kidney injury (AKI) risk and AKI-associated outcomes in hospitalized patients with carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative infections (CR-GNIs) treated with a newer ß-lactam/ß-lactam-ß-lactamase inhibitor (BL/BL-BLI)-, polymyxin (PB)- or aminoglycoside (AG)-containing regimen. This study quantified the risk of AKI and AKI-related outcomes among patients with CR-GNIs treated with a newer BL/BL-BLI-, PB- or AG-containing regimen. METHODS: A multicentre, retrospective, observational study was performed (2016-20). The study included adult hospitalized patients with (i) baseline estimated glomerular filtration rates ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2; (ii) CR-GN pneumonia, complicated urinary tract infection or bloodstream infection; and (iii) receipt of newer BL/BL-BLI, PG or AG within 7 days of index CR-GN culture for ≥3 days. Outcomes included AKI, in-hospital mortality and hospital costs. RESULTS: The study included 750 patients and most (48%) received a newer BL/BL-BLI. The median (IQR) treatment duration was 8 (5-11), 5 (4-8) and 7 (4-8) days in the newer BL/BL-BLI group, AG group and PB group, respectively. The PB group had the highest adjusted AKI incidence (95% CI) (PB: 25.1% (15.6%-34.6%) versus AG: 8.9% (5.7%-12.2%) versus newer BL/BL-BLI: 11.9% (8.1%-15.7%); P = 0.001). Patients with AKI had significantly higher in-hospital mortality (AKI: 18.5% versus 'No AKI': 5.6%; P = 0.001) and mean hospital costs (AKI: $49 192 versus 'No AKI': $38,763; P = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: The AKI incidence was highest among PB patients and patients with AKI had worse outcomes. Healthcare systems should consider minimizing the use of antibiotics that augment AKI risk as a measure to improve outcomes in patients with CR-GNIs.

Impact of type of anticoagulant on clinical outcomes in cancer patients who had atrial fibrillation.

To date, evidence on optimal anticoagulant options in patients with AF who concurrently have active cancer remains elusive. To describe anticoagulant patterns and clinical outcomes among patients with a concomitant diagnosis of AF and cancer. Data were obtained from the University of Utah and Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) Hospitals. Patients were included if they had diagnosis of AF and cancer. Outcome was type and pattern of anticoagulant. Clinical outcomes were stroke, bleeding and all-cause mortality. From October 1999 to December 2020, there were 566 AF patients who concurrently had active cancer. Mean age ± standard deviation was 76.2 ± 10.7 and 57.6% were males. Comparing to warfarin, patients who received direct oral anticoagulant (DOACs) were associated with similar risk of stroke (adjusted hazard ratio, aHR 0.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2-2.7, P = 0.67). On contrary, those who received low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) were associated with significantly higher risk of stroke comparing to warfarin (aHR 2.4, 95% CI 1.0-5.6, P = 0.04). Comparing to warfarin, DOACs and LMWH was associated with similar risk of overall bleeding with aHR 1.1 (95% CI 0.7-1.6, P = 0.73) and aHR 1.1 (95% CI 0.6-1.7, P = 0.83), respectively. Patients who received LMWH but not DOACs were associated with increased risk of death as compared to warfarin, aHR 4.5 (95% CI 2.8-7.2, P < 0.001) and 1.2 (95% CI 0.7-2.2, P = 0.47). In patients with active cancer and AF, LMWH, compared to warfarin, was associated with an increased risk of stroke and all-cause mortality. Furthermore, DOACs was associated with similar risk of stroke, bleeding and death as compared to warfarin.

Clinical and economic implications of increasing access to herpes zoster vaccination rate in community pharmacies.

BACKGROUND: A community pharmacist plays an important role in providing vaccination to the general public in the United States. No economic models have been used to assess the impact of these services on public health and economic benefits. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the clinical and economic implications of community pharmacy-based herpes zoster (HZ) vaccination services with a hypothetical scenario of nonpharmacy-based vaccination in the State of Utah. METHODS: A hybrid model of decision tree and Markov models was used to estimate lifetime cost and health outcomes. This open-cohort model was populated based on Utah population statistics and included a population of 50 years and older who were eligible for HZ vaccination between the years 2010 and 2020. Data were derived from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Utah Immunization Coverage Report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the CDC National Health Interview Survey, and existing literature. The analysis was performed from a societal perspective. A lifetime time horizon was used. The primary outcomes were the number of vaccination cases increased and the number of shingles and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) cases averted. Total costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were also estimated. RESULTS: Based on a cohort of 853,550 people eligible for HZ vaccination in Utah, an additional 11,576 individuals were vaccinated in the community pharmacy-based scenario compared with the nonpharmacy-based vaccination, resulting in 706 averted cases of shingles and 143 averted cases of PHN. Community pharmacy-based HZ vaccination was less costly (-$131,894) and gained more QALYs (52.2) compared with the nonpharmacy-based vaccination. A series of sensitivity analyses showed that the findings were robust. CONCLUSIONS: Community pharmacy-based HZ vaccination was less costly and gained more QALYs and was associated with improved other clinical outcomes in the State of Utah. This study might be used as a model for future evaluations of other community pharmacy-based vaccination programs in the United States.

Patient Perspectives on the Use of Digital Technology to Help Manage Cystic Fibrosis.

Background: Digital health technologies (DHTs) have shown potential to improve health outcomes through improved medication adherence in different disease states. Cystic fibrosis (CF) requires care coordination across pharmacies, patients, and providers. DHTs can potentially support patients, providers, and pharmacists in diseases like CF, where high medication burden can negatively impact patient quality of life and outcomes. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, a CF-specific mobile application (Phlo) was distributed to adults with CF who received care at the University of Utah Cystic Fibrosis Center, used an iPhone, and filled prescriptions through the University of Utah Specialty Pharmacy services. Participants were asked to use Phlo for 90 days with an optional 90-day extension period. Participants completed four surveys at baseline and after 90 days. Changes in patient-reported outcomes, adherence, clinical outcomes, and healthcare resource utilization from baseline to 90 days were tracked. Results: Phlo allowed users to track daily regimen activities, contact their care team, receive medication delivery reminders, and share progress with their healthcare team. A web-based dashboard allowed the care team to review reported performance scores from the app. Most patients (67%) said the app improved confidence in and motivation for continuing their regimen. The most important reported benefit of Phlo was having a single location to manage their whole routine. Conclusions: Phlo is a mobile health technology designed to help patients with CF manage their treatment regimen and improve patient-provider communication.

Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy of Intravenous Digoxin Loading Doses Based on Ideal Body Weight.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous digoxin loading dose recommendations differ between clinical guidelines and Food and Drug Administration packaging for acute rate control. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of intravenous digoxin loading in patients who received ≤12 µg/kg and >12 µg/kg of digoxin using ideal body weight (IBW). METHODS: This single center retrospective cohort study with exempt status from the local Institutional Review Board included patients who received intravenous digoxin and had a serum digoxin concentration (SDC) drawn. Digoxin doses >36 hours after the first dose were excluded. Patients who received a total of >12 µg/kg and ≤12 µg/kg IBW were compared. The primary endpoint was frequency of SDCs ≥1.2 ng/mL, which have been shown to be associated with increased mortality. RESULTS: A total of 244 patients were included (144 receiving >12 µg/kg and 100 receiving ≤12 µg/kg). There were significantly more SDC ≥1.2 ng/mL in the >12 µg/kg group than the ≤12 µg/kg group (50.6% vs. 30.0%; adjusted odds ratio, 3.19; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.79-5.84), with no difference in rate control failure. Major limitations of the study include retrospective nature and possible selection bias. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Compared to patients who received digoxin doses ≤12 µg/kg IBW, patients who received >12 µg/kg IBW had higher rates of SDC ≥1.2 ng/mL. This suggests that appropriate weight-based dosing with 8 to 12 µg/kg IBW has the potential to be a safer approach to digoxin loading, rather than frequently used dosing strategies that result in doses >12 µg/kg.

Applying diagnosis support systems in electronic health records to identify wild-type transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy risk.

Aim: Wild-type transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTRwt-CM) is frequently misdiagnosed, and delayed diagnosis is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. At three large academic medical centers, combinations of phenotypic features were implemented in electronic health record (EHR) systems to identify patients with heart failure at risk for ATTRwt-CM. Methods: Phenotypes/phenotype combinations were selected based on strength of correlation with ATTRwt-CM versus non-amyloid heart failure; different clinical decision support and reporting approaches and data sources were evaluated on Cerner and Epic EHR platforms. Results: Multiple approaches/sources showed potential usefulness for incorporating predictive analytics into the EHR to identify at-risk patients. Conclusion: These preliminary findings may guide other medical centers in building and implementing similar systems to improve recognition of ATTRwt-CM in patients with heart failure.

Caregiver burden by treatment and clinical characteristics of patients with glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma is an incurable disease with a poor prognosis. For caregivers of people with glioblastoma, the burden of care can be high. Patients often present with different clinical characteristics, which may impact caregiver burden in different ways. This study aimed to evaluate associations between patient clinical characteristics and caregiver burden/quality of life (QoL). METHODS: Caregiver-patient dyads were enrolled at 7 academic cancer centers in the United States. Eligible caregiver participants were self-reported as the primary caregiver of an adult living with glioblastoma and completed a caregiver burden survey. Eligible patients were age ≥ 18 years at glioblastoma diagnosis and alive when their respective caregiver entered the study, with the presence of cognitive dysfunction confirmed by the caregiver. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: The final cohort included 167 dyads. Poor patient performance status resulted in patient difficulty with mental tasks, more caregiving tasks, and increased caregiving time. Language problems were reported in patients with left-sided lesions. Patient confusion was negatively associated with all caregiver domains: emotional health, social health, general health, ability to work, confidence in finances, and overall QoL. Better caregiver QoL was observed in patients with frontal lobe lesions versus non-frontal lobe lesions. CONCLUSION: This study reinforced that patient performance status is a critical clinical factor that significantly affects caregiver burden, caregiving tasks, and caregiver time. Additionally, patient confusion affects multiple facets of caregiver burden/QoL. These results could be used to support guided intervention for caregiver support, customized to the patient experience.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of cardiovascular toxicity of medical cannabinoids.

BACKGROUND: Several systematic reviews (SRs) have summarized the potential effectiveness of medical cannabinoids, but it is unclear to what extent safety-related outcomes were incorporated. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the cardiovascular toxicity associated with medical use of cannabinoids. METHODS: A 2-stage systematic review (SR) approach was undertaken to assess the current evidence on cannabinoid-associated cardiovascular events reported among randomized controlled trials (RCTs). First, we searched for SRs in multiple sources until June 2019. Second, RCTs identified from the SRs were included if they assessed medical cannabis and reported cardiovascular events. The outcomes of interest were all types of cardiovascular events. Data were extracted by 2 independent reviewers. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias. A statistical test of heterogeneity was performed. The summary risk ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs were calculated using a random-effects model. RESULTS: A total of 47 studies involving 2800 patients were included. The median duration of cannabinoid use was 15.8 days (range 1 to 322), and 45% of the studies excluded patients with underlying cardiovascular diseases. Cannabinoid use was significantly associated with increased risks of orthostatic hypotension (RR 3.16 [95% CI 2.27-4.40], I2 = 2.3%) and hypotension (3.55 [1.45-8.71], I2 = 31.8%), with a trend of increased risk of tachycardia (1.94 [0.81-4.64], I2 = 48.6%). No study reported serious cardiovascular events. CONCLUSIONS: Cannabinoid use was associated with tachycardia, hypotension, and orthostatic hypotension. There is a paucity of data for other cardiovascular events among medical cannabis users. More data, especially regarding long-term effects among patients with existing cardiovascular diseases, are needed.

Self-Assembly of Thermoresponsive Recombinant Silk-Elastinlike Nanogels.

Recombinant silk-elastinlike protein polymers (SELPs) combine the biocompatibility and thermoresponsiveness of human tropoelastin with the strength of silk. Direct control over structure of these monodisperse polymers allows for precise correlation of structure with function. This work describes the fabrication of the first SELP nanogels and evaluation of their physicochemical properties and thermoresponsiveness. Self-assembly of dilute concentrations of SELPs results in nanogels with enhanced stability over micelles due to physically crosslinked beta-sheet silk segments. The nanogels respond to thermal stimuli via size changes and aggregation. Modifying the ratio and sequence of silk to elastin in the polymer backbone results in alterations in critical gel formation concentration, stability, aggregation, size contraction temperature, and thermal reversibility. The nanogels sequester hydrophobic compounds and show promise in delivery of bioactive agents.