RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Legionella is often associated with life-threatening pneumonia that is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. Fluoroquinolones (FQ) have demonstrated improved clinical outcomes or decreased complications compared with clarithromycin and erythromycin. However, there is limited data comparing outcomes of FQ to azithromycin (AZM), which exhibits better Legionella activity than erythromycin and clarithromycin. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study compared clinical outcomes of patients with Legionella pneumonia (LP) treated with AZM versus FQ from January 1999 to May 2011. RESULTS: A total of 41 patients were included in the analysis; 21 received FQ and 20 received AZM. Demographics, comorbidities, and disease severity were similar between groups. Mortality (9.5% vs. 5%, P > 0.99), time to clinical stability (15.89 days vs. 10.26 days, P = 0.09), length of hospitalization (19.29 days vs. 11.35 days, P = 0.06), and presentation of any complication (85.7% vs. 90%, P > 0.99) were similar between the FQ and AZM groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Azithromycin appears to have clinical efficacy similar to FQ for the treatment of Legionella pneumonia.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND:: Pharmacists may assist with reducing 30-day readmission rates for patients with heart failure (HF) exacerbation or acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by promoting medication adherence. OBJECTIVE:: To determine the change in 30-day readmission rates for patients with HF exacerbation or AMI after implementation of a "high-touch" standard of care. METHODS:: Patients admitted with HF exacerbation, non-ST-segment elevation AMI, or ST-segment elevation AMI from August 1, 2013, to June 30, 2015, were included in this prospective study. Patients were educated while in the inpatient setting and followed up in the outpatient setting through telephone contact and scheduling a medication therapy management (MTM) appointment with a pharmacist. Data were collected by pharmacy personnel involved in the implementation of the intervention. RESULTS:: Within the HF and AMI arms, 100 and 93 patients, respectively, were included in the study. The 30-day readmission rates were 24% and 17.2% for HF and AMI, respectively, which were not statistically significant when compared to historical institutional readmission rates prior to study initiation (18.2% for HF, P = .238; 11.4% for AMI, P = .252). CONCLUSION:: A "high-touch" pharmacist-driven transitions of care program may affect 30-day readmission rates for patients with HF exacerbation or AMI; potential processes for initiating transitions of care programs are provided.