Pharmacist's Role and Pharmaceutical Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Pharmacists play a vital role in public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this chapter, we present the most significant contributions that pharmacists could make to communitarian and hospital settings. It includes the provision of essential services, such as continuous access to medication and supplies, support to medical services, education and information to the population and the health team to reduce the misuse of medications, patient monitoring and follow-up, and the detection and referral of suspected cases of COVID-19. The chapter ends with a discussion over certain elements related to innovation needs, such as telepharmacy services.

Epidemiology of drug-induced liver injury in a University Hospital from Colombia: Updated RUCAM being used for prospective causality assessment.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Epidemiological information regarding drug-induced liver injury in some Latin American countries remains limited. Therefore, disease prevention and health promotion strategies are imperative to reduce drug-induced liver injuries and its fatal outcomes. This study aimed to collect epidemiological data regarding drug-induced liver injury and identify associated factors in patients admitted to a university hospital in Colombia. METHODS AND PATIENTS: A prospective study was conducted for 1 year to assess the incidence of drug-induced liver injury in patients aged >18 years who showed elevated values in liver tests. Data were collected after obtaining informed consent from the patients. The updated Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method was applied to assess the causality of drug-induced liver injury. RESULTS: The study included 286 patients with elevated values in liver tests, 18 of whom presented with drug-induced liver injury. The mean age of patients was 54.7±19.1 years. The associated pharmacological groups were anti-infectives and anticonvulsants (isoniazid, rifampicin, nitrofurantoin, phenytoin, and valproic acid), with a total of 15 drugs. The affected patients presented with cytopenia, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, or hepatomegaly. The most common type of liver injury was hepatocellular, and most patients recovered satisfactorily. The number of patients who had highly probable and probable causality grading was 1 and 9, respectively. CONCLUSION: The incidence of drug-induced liver injury in a university hospital in Colombia was 6%. Comorbidities and concomitant drugs are risk factors for drug-induced liver injury. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered in The Cuban Public Registry of Clinical Trials (identifier RPCEC00000242).

[Hypo or hyperglycemia associated with fluoroquinolone use]. / Disglucemia asociada a fluoroquinolonas: una revisión estructurada.

Fluoroquinolone type antimicrobials can cause hypo or hyperglycemia in certain patients. We performed a structured review about this side effect, searching articles published in English or Spanish with full text access in PubMed/Medline. The following MESH terms were used: Hypoglycemia, Hyperglycemia, Quinolones, Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Moxifloxacin. Additionally, we evaluated the clinical relevance of potential drug interactions, based on the probability of occurrence and the severity of the interaction effect. We obtained 42 publications about the issue; 22 references were selected, where the severity of the interaction in patients with risk factors was evaluated. Patients receiving antidiabetic medications and with risk factors such as advanced age and renal failure may be more likely to have a severe hypoglycemia. In these patients, this drug interaction should be considered clinically relevant since its risk is high or very high.

Effectiveness and safety of generic version of abacavir/lamivudine and efavirenz in treatment naïve HIV-infected patients: a nonrandomized, open-label, phase IV study in Cali-Colombia, 2011-2012.

BACKGROUND: Generic drug policies are often associated with concerns about the quality and effectiveness of these products. Phase IV clinical trials may be a suitable design to assess the effectiveness and safety of generic drugs. The objective of this study was to describe the effectiveness and the safety of the generic abacavir/lamivudine and efavirenz in treatment-naïve HIV-infected patients. METHODS: A monocentric, nonrandomized, open-label, phase IV study in treatment naïve HIV-infected patients 18 years or older with indication to receive abacavir/lamivudine and efavirenz were recruited from a program that provides comprehensive outpatient consultation and continuing care. The primary end-point was to achieve viral load <40 copies/mL at 12 months after baseline to assess effectiveness. Secondary end-point of the study were 1) to asses increasing in T-CD4 lymphocytes levels as accompaniment to asses effectiveness, and 2) to assess both gastrointestinal, skin, and central nervous system symptoms, and lipid profile, cardiovascular risk, renal, and hepatic function as safety profile. Data were determined at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Close clinical monitoring and pharmaceutical care were used for data collection. Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test was used to compare proportions or medians. RESULTS: Sixty patients were invited to participate in the study; 42 were enrolled and 33 completed the follow-up. Of the nine patients excluded from the study, only one was withdrawn due to adverse events. At 12 months, 31 of 42 patients (73.8 % in intention-to-treat analysis) achieved a viral load of HIV1 RNA <40 copies/mL. There was a significant increase (172 cells/mm3) in the median for CD4 T lymphocyte count. The adverse events were mild and met the safety profile for this antiretroviral regimen, mainly of central nervous system symptoms, skin rash, lipid abnormalities, and an increase of 2 % in the median of the percentage of cardiovascular risk. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical outcomes of generic version of abacavir/lamivudine and efavirenz in HIV treatment naïve patients showed the expected safety and effectiveness profile of proprietary ARV drugs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registro Público Cubano de Ensayos Clínicos (RPCEC) ID: RPCEC00000202 . Registered 19 November 2015.

[Reliability and external validity of a questionnaire to assess the knowledge about risk and cardiovascular disease and in patients attending Spanish community pharmacies]. / Fiabilidad y validez externa de un cuestionario de conocimiento sobre riesgo y enfermedad cardiovascular en pacientes que acuden a farmacias comunitarias de España.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the test-retest reliability of a questionnaire, with a validation preliminary, to assess knowledge of cardiovascular risk (CVR) and cardiovascular disease in patients attending community pharmacies in Spain. To complement the external validity, establishing the relationship between an educational activity and the increase in knowledge about CVR and cardiovascular disease. DESIGN: Sub-analysis of a controlled clinical study, EMDADER-CV, in which a questionnaire about knowledge concerning CVR was applied at 4 different times. LOCATION: Spanish Community Pharmacies. PARTICIPANTS: There were 323 patients in the control group, from the 640 who completed the study. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Intraclass correlation coefficient to assess the reliability in 3 comparisons (post-educational activity with week 16, post-educational activity with week 32, and week 16 with week 32); and the non-parametric Friedman test to establish the relationship between an oral and written educational activity with increasing knowledge. RESULTS: For the 323 patients in the 3 comparisons, the intraclass correlation coefficient values were 0.624; 0.608 and 0.801, respectively (fair-good to excellent reliability). So, the Friedman test showed a statistically significant relationship between educational activity and increased knowledge (p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: According to the intraclass correlation coefficient, the questionnaire aimed at assessing the knowledge on CVR and cardiovascular disease has a reliability between acceptable and excellent, which added to the previous validation, shows that the instrument meets the criteria of validity and reliability. Furthermore, the questionnaire showed the ability to relate an increase in knowledge with an educational intervention, feature that complements its external validity.

[Effect of drug interaction between clopidogrel and omeprazole in hospital readmision of patients by a recurrent acute coronary syndrome: a case-control study]. / Efecto de la interacción clopidogrel-omeprazol en el reingreso hospitalario de pacientes por recidiva de síndrome coronario agudo: estudio de casos y controles.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of drug interaction between omeprazol and clopidogrel in hospital readmission of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). DESIGN: Case-control study. LOCATION: University Clinic LeonXIII, Medellin, Colombia. PARTICIPANTS: We selected from a prevalent population, between 2009-2010, use of clopidogrel patients on an outpatient basis (less than one year and more than 30days), and hospital stay for ACS or the presence of a previous ACS. MAIN MEASURES: A case-patient was defined as one who had a recurrence of ACS and a patient-control is defined as one that no recurrence of ACS. Both groups used ambulatory prior clopidogrel due to ACS. As defined risk factor the joint use of omeprazole and clopidogrel outpatients. RESULTS: During the study, 1680patients clopidogrel formulated. This group identified 50cases readmitted with ACS and 76controls. No statistically significant association was found between use of clopidogrel-omeprazole and increased risk of hospital readmission for ACS (OR: 1.05; 95%CI: 0.516-2.152; P=.8851). CONCLUSIONS: In this small group of patients with previous SCA, the simultaneous use of clopidogrel with omeprazole does not increase the risk of a readmission by recurrence of this type of coronary event.

[Clinical relevance of drug interactions between nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antihypertensives]. / Relevancia clínica de las interacciones medicamentosas entre antiinflamatorios no esteroideos y antihipertensivos.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the clinical relevance of drug interactions between nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antihypertensives, based on the interaction severity and probability of occurrence. DESIGN: Systematic review. DATA SOURCES: A PubMed/Medline search was made using the MeSH terms: NSAIDs, Antihypertensive drugs, and Drug interactions. DATA EXTRACTION: Articles between 2002 and 2012, human studies, in Spanish and English and full text access were included. Found articles were included and some of the references used in this works. Studies with in vitro methods, effects on ocular hypertension and those who do not consider the interaction NSAIDs, antihypertensives were excluded. For the selection of the papers included three independent reviewers were involved. We used a tool for data extraction and for assess of the interaction clinical relevance. RESULTS: Nineteen of 50 papers found were included. There were identified 21 interactions with pharmacodynamic mechanism, classified by their clinical relevance in level-2 high risk (76.2%) and level-3 medium risk (23.8%). In addition, evidence of 16 combinations of no interaction were found. CONCLUSIONS: Some NSAIDs may attenuate the effectiveness of antihypertensive drugs when used concurrently, especially with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, diuretics, beta blockers and angiotensin receptorsii blockers. There was no evidence of effect modification of calcium channel antagonists, especially dihydropyridine, by concurrent use of NSAIDs.

Drugs as Possible Triggers of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy- Update 2022: Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: A list of drugs that can induce takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) was published in 2011 and 2016. The aim of the present review was to update this list. METHODS: Similar to the 2011 and 2016 reviews, from April 2015 to May 2022 case reports of druginduced TCM were identified by a comprehensive search in Medline/PubMed database. The search terms were: takotsubo cardiomyopathy, tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy, stress cardiomyopathy, transientleft- ventricular ballooning syndrome, apical ballooning syndrome, ampulla cardiomyopathy OR broken heart syndrome; together with "iatrogenic", "induced by" OR "drug-induced". Registers published in English or Spanish, in humans, and with full texts were retrieved. Articles that recognized any drug associated with the development of TCM were selected. RESULTS: Overall, 184 manuscripts were identified by the search. A total of 39 articles were included after an exhaustive revision. Eighteen drugs as possible triggers of TCM were identified in the current update. Of them, 3 (16.7%) have been previously identified, and 15 (83.3%) are different from the previous reports. Thus, the list of drugs as possible triggers of TCM updated in 2022 includes 72 drugs. CONCLUSION: There are new case reports that link drugs with the development of TCM. The current list is principally made up of drugs that generate sympathetic overstimulation. However, some of the listed drugs do not have a clear link with sympathetic activation.

Clinical Relevance of Drug Interactions in People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus on Antiretroviral Therapy-Update 2022: Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The clinical outcomes of antiretroviral drugs may be modified through drug interactions; thus, it is important to update the drug interactions in people living with HIV (PLHIV). AIM: To update clinically relevant drug interactions in PLHIV on antiretroviral therapy with novel drug interactions published from 2017 to 2022. METHODS: A systematic review in Medline/PubMed database from July 2017 to December 2022 using the Mesh terms antiretroviral agents and drug interactions or herb-drug interactions or food-drug interactions. Publications with drug interactions in humans, in English or Spanish, and with full-text access were retrieved. The clinical relevance of drug interactions was grouped into five levels according to the gravity and probability of occurrence. RESULTS: A total of 366 articles were identified, with 219 (including 87 citation lists) were included, which allowed for the identification of 471 drug interaction pairs; among them, 291 were systematically reported for the first time. In total 42 (14.4%) and 137 (47.1%) were level one and two, respectively, and 233 (80.1%) pairs were explained with the pharmacokinetic mechanism. Among these 291 pairs, protease inhibitors (PIs) and ritonavir/cobicistat-boosted PIs, as well as integrase strand transfer inhibitors (InSTIs), with 70 (24.1%) and 65 (22.3%) drug interaction pairs of levels one and two, respectively, were more frequent. CONCLUSIONS: In PLHIV on antiretroviral therapy, we identify 291 drug interaction pairs systematically reported for the first time, with 179 (61.5%) being assessed as clinically relevant (levels one and two). The pharmacokinetic mechanism was the most frequently identified. PIs, ritonavir/cobicistat-boosted PIs, and InSTIs were the antiretroviral groups with the highest number of clinically relevant drug interaction pairs (levels one and two).

Clinical Relevance of Drug Interactions with Cannabis: A Systematic Review.

Concomitant use of cannabis with other drugs may lead to cannabis-drug interactions, mainly due to the pharmacokinetic mechanism involving the family of CYP450 isoenzymes. This narrative systematic review aimed to systematize the available information regarding clinical relevance of cannabis-drug interactions. We utilized the PubMed/Medline database for this systematic review, using the terms drug interactions and cannabis, between June 2011 and June 2021. Articles with cannabis-drug interactions in humans, in English or Spanish, with full-text access were selected. Two researchers evaluated the article's inclusion. The level of clinical relevance was determined according to the severity and probability of the interaction. Ninety-five articles were identified and twenty-six were included. Overall, 19 pairs of drug interactions with medicinal or recreational cannabis were identified in humans. According to severity and probability, 1, 2, 12, and 4 pairs of cannabis-drug interactions were classified at levels 1 (very high risk), 2 (high risk), 3 (medium risk), and 5 (without risk), respectively. Cannabis-warfarin was classified at level 1, and cannabis-buprenorphine and tacrolimus at level 2. This review provides evidence for both the low probability of the occurrence of clinically relevant drug interactions and the lack of evidence regarding cannabis-drug interactions.

Processes implemented and activities carried out by the pharmacists during the COVID­19 pandemic: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and summarize the processes implemented and the  activities performed by community and hospital-based pharmacists during the  COVID­19 pandemic. METHOD: A scoping review was carried out of the PubMed/Medline database  with the aim of identifying articles published until 30 June 2021. The PRISMA  recommendations for this type of review were followed. The articles included  were reviewed and classified according to their main characteristics and  outcomes, according to population, concept and context. The processes and  activities identified were grouped into three categories: those performed in  community and hospital pharmacies, those performed essentially in community  pharmacies, and those performed essentially in hospital  pharmacies. RESULTS: A total of 629 articles were identified, of which 454 were excluded  because they were unrelated to the object of the review and 81 due to meeting  the exclusion criteria. So, 94 articles were included in the analysis.  Most studies were conducted in Europe and the United States. During the  COVID­19 pandemic, the processes implemented and the activities carried out  in both community and hospital-based pharmacies included pharmaceutical  care, efficient and timely management of services, information and education,  psychological support, pharmacovigilance and telepharmacy. Processes  implemented and activities carried out essentially in community pharmacies  were those related to the detection recommendations, and drug indications.  Finally, processes and activities essentially occurring in hospital pharmacies  included those related to participation in drug treatment research, drug  evaluation and guidelines development, and to managing off-label drugs. CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID­19 crisis, pharmacists have led and implemented processes aimed at mitigating the impact of the pandemic on  the population´s health. Pharmaceutical care, efficient and  timely management of services, information and education, psychological  support, pharmacovigilance and telepharmacy, both in community and hospital pharmacies, are the main processes implemented by pharmacists  during the COVID­19 pandemic. These processes and activities, in addition to contributing to the control, prevention and effective and safe treatment of  COVID­19; have ensured the implementation of biosecurity measures, proper  dispensing of medication, the drug rational use, and the provision of evidence- based information and education.

OBJETIVO: Identificar y sintetizar los procesos y actividades realizados por el  farmacéutico en la farmacia comunitaria y hospitalaria durante la pandemia por  COVID-19.Método: Revisión sistemática exploratoria en PubMed/Medline de artículos publicados hasta el 30 de junio de 2021, siguiendo las  recomendaciones PRISMA para este tipo de revisiones. Los artículos incluidos  se clasificaron según sus principales características y resultados, acorde con la  estructura: población, concepto y contexto. Los procesos y las actividades  identificados se agruparon en tres categorías: realizados en farmacia  comunitaria y hospitalaria, llevados a cabo esencialmente en farmacia  comunitaria y realizados esencialmente en farmacia hospitalaria. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron 629 artículos, de los cuales se excluyeron 454  por no estar en relación con el objeto de la revisión y 81 por los criterios de  exclusión; por tanto, se incluyeron 94 en la revisión y análisis. La mayoría de  los estudios se desarrollaron en Europa y Estados Unidos. Entre los procesos y  actividades llevados a cabo por el farmacéutico durante la pandemia, tanto en  farmacia comunitaria como en hospitalaria, destacaron: atención farmacéutica,  gestión eficiente y oportuna de los servicios, información y  educación, apoyo psicológico, farmacovigilancia y telefarmacia. En farmacia  comunitaria destacaron también los relacionados con la detección de COVID-19  y derivación de pacientes, inmunización en farmacias, recomendaciones de  cuidados en el hogar e indicación farmacéutica. Entre los procesos  realizados esencialmente en farmacia hospitalaria destacaron los relacionados  con la participación en investigaciones de tratamientos farmacológicos,  desarrollo de guías de utilización de medicamentos basadas en evidencia y  manejo de medicamentos en indicaciones no aprobadas. CONCLUSIONES: Durante la pandemia por COVID-19, los farmacéuticos han  liderado e implantado procesos orientados a mitigar su impacto en la salud de  la población. Atención farmacéutica, gestión eficiente y oportuna de los  servicios, información y educación, apoyo psicológico, farmacovigilancia y  telefarmacia fueron los principales procesos y actividades realizados en  farmacia comunitaria y hospitalaria durante la pandemia por COVID-19. Dichos  procesos y actividades buscaron, además de contribuir al control,  prevención y tratamiento efectivo y seguro de la COVID-19, asegurar la  implantación de medidas de bioseguridad, la dispensación y uso adecuado de  los medicamentos y la información y educación basadas en la mejor evidencia  disponible.

Effect and associated factors of a clinical pharmacy model in the incidence of medication errors in the hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe eacpharmodel study: stepped wedge randomized controlled Trial (NCT03338725).

Background The World Health Organization considers medication errors to be an issue that requires attention at all levels of care, to reduce the severe and preventable harm related to drug therapy. Different standards for clinical pharmaceutical practices have been proposed by various organizations across the world, where the pharmacist, as part of the multidisciplinary health team, can help improve patient safety. Objective To assess the impact of the introduction of a clinical pharmacy practice model on medication error in patients of a university hospital. Setting The study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital, Medellín, Colombia. Methods A randomized, controlled cluster-wedge staggered trial with a duration of 14 months was conducted to compare the clinical pharmacy practice model with the usual care process in the hospital. Five hospital health care units were included, which were initially assigned to the control group, and after an observation period of 2 months, they were randomly assigned to the intervention group. The trial protocol was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier NCT03338725). Main outcome measure The incidence of medication errors in hospitalized patients was the main outcome measure. Results The incidence of medication error was 13.3% and 22.8% for the intervention group and control group, respectively. The probability of presenting a medication error was 48% lower when the patient was in the intervention group (RR 0.52; 95% CI: 0.34-0.79). The probability of presenting a medication error over time was 44% lower in the intervention group (p = 0.0005); meanwhile, the resolution of a medication error over time was 70% higher in the intervention group (p = 0. 0029). Conclusion The clinical pharmacy practice model, made up of strategies focused on reducing medication errors, significantly reduces medication errors in patients during hospitalization compared with usual practice. This work assessed the effect of a clinical pharmacy model on the incidence of medication errors and demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing these errors in hospitalized patients. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03338725. Registered on 9 November 2017. First patient randomized on February 2, 2018.

[Effect of pharmacist involvement in adherence to medications in patients with high to moderate cardiovascular risk (Study EMDADER-CV-INCUMPLIMIENTO)]. / Efecto de la actuación farmacéutica en la adherencia del tratamiento farmacológico de pacientes ambulatorios con riesgo cardiovascular (Estudio EMDADER-CV-INCUMPLIMIENTO).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of pharmacist involvement, by means of Pharmacotherapy Follow-Up (PFU) in the improvement of medication adherence and therapeutic outcomes. DESIGN: An experimental, controlled, and randomised clinical study comparing a PFU program with the routine process in Spanish community pharmacies improved with health education during 8 months. SETTING: Nine Spanish community pharmacies. PARTICIPANTS: Patients between 25 and 74 years with a moderate-high cardiovascular risk (CVR), who arrived with a prescription, in their name, for drugs for at least one CVR factor. INTERVENTIONS: The patients were randomly assigned to the intervention group (IG), and received PFU and health education, or the control group (CG), who received health education only. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Adherence to treatment, and blood pressure (BP) and total cholesterol (TC) levels at the beginning and end of the study. RESULTS: Of the 87 patients enrolled, 85 finished the study: 41 from the CG and 44 from the IG. Both groups increased adherence at the end of the [CG: 26.9%; 95% CI: 12.7- 41; IG: 27.3%; 95% CI: 13.6 - 41]. Although the IG showed better results in the variation of BP and TC levels, the differences compared to the CG were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: PFU and health education improves adherence to treatment. To be a patient who completes the study is also associated with improvement in the blood pressure and blood pressure/total cholesterol objectives.

[Medication errors in pediatrics]. / Errores de medicación en pediatría.

INTRODUCTION: Medication errors (ME) are preventable incidents of inappropriate use of medications by health per sonnel or by the patient. These events can occur at any stage of drug use generating significant costs to the health system and, in some cases, these can even lead to death. The pediatric population is con sidered susceptible to ME with a prevalence 3 times higher than adult patients. OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of medication errors in hospitalized pediatric patients, as well as their classification according to the stage of use of the medication when they occurred. METHOD: A literature review of ME in pediatrics was carried out through a Pubmed / Medline search using Mesh terms ("Medication Errors" and "Pediatrics") in the last 10 years. Three investigators reviewed independently the identi fied articles considering the STROBE checklist for observational studies. RESULTS: 192 bibliographic references were identified, 22 of them were eligible for review and data collection. Studies reported an error rate between 1% and 58% of the evaluated medication indications, with errors reported in different processes of drug use. 9 articles (41%) described errors related only to prescription, mainly associated with incorrect dosage, 6 (27%) errors related to prescription, administration, and other processes, 3 (14%) related to prescription and administration, 2 (9%) related only to administra tion, 1 (4%) article reported errors related to conciliation, and 1 (4%) described errors related to preparation and administration. CONCLUSION: The studies reported different medication errors in the pediatric population. Most of them reported ME related to prescription followed by ME in the administration. Knowing the proportion of ME allows focusing interventions aimed at reducing their prevalence.

[Pharmacist´s contribution on antimicrobial stewardship program: ambispective cohort study]. / Contribución del químico farmacéutico en los programas de gerenciamiento de antimicrobianos: estudio de cohortes ambispectivo.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial stewardship program (AMSP) promotes the rational use of the antimicrobial, ensuring that each patient receives the correct antibiotic, by the correct time and at the correct dose. AIM: To establish the association of the results of an AMSP led by a pharmaceutical chemist, in terms of antibiotic consumption, duration of treatment and costs in a tertiary healthcare setting. METHOD: Ambispective cohort study. In the exposed cohort, in the environment of a AMSP, a pharmacist with training in infectious diseases evaluated and intervened the indication, dosage, duration of treatment and bacterial spectrum of the antimicrobial. The no-exposed cohort corresponded to a retrospective population that was similar (paired) to the exposed cohort, but that did not receive an evaluation of its antimicrobial therapy. RESULT: 258 patients were identified in the exposed cohort and 247 in the cohort not exposed to the AMSP. Decrease in the consumption of antibiotics was observed (119,831 vs 137,678 DDD/100 patients-day, p < 0.001) and a decrease in 34.1% of the costs associated with antibiotic therapy of the exposed cohort, in comparison with the cohort not exposed to the AMSP. CONCLUSION: AMSP led by a pharmacist have better outcomes in terms of consumption and lower costs associated with antibiotic therapy.

COVID-19 in Colombia endpoints. Are we different, like Europe?

The infection by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has taken the dimension of a pandemic, affecting more than 160 countries in a few weeks. In Colombia, despite the implementation of the rules established by the national government, exists an elevate concern both for mortality and for the limited capacity of the health system to respond effectively to the needs of patients infected. For Colombia, assuming a case fatality rate among people infected with SARS-CoV-2 of 0.6% (average data from the information reported for Latin American countries for March 18) (Table 1), the number of deaths, in one or two weeks, could be 16 and 243, respectively. These estimates differ markedly from those documented in countries such as Spain and Italy, in which COVID-19 case fatality rates exceed 8% (case of Italy) and from the percentage of patients who have required intensive care, which has ranged from 9% to 11% of patients in Mediterranean European countries. These differences could be explained due to: a) the percentage of the population at risk (individuals older than 60 years); b) a higher epidemiological exposure to viral respiratory infections associated with more frequent exposure to them, due to geographic and climatic conditions; c) less spread of the virus by location in the tropical zone; and d) earlier preventive measures to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, it is possible to establish that the situation in this country will be different from in European Mediterranean and that Colombia could have different endpoints from Spain and Italy.

How to link patients with suspicious COVID-19 to health system from the community pharmacies? A route proposal.

Colombia confirmed its first case of the COVID-19 on March 6th, 2020. On March 16th, 2020, 54 cases have been confirmed (36 imported and 18 associated), therefore, Colombia is at highest alert, and it is now trying to avoid or minimize the last stage of "community transmission". We present a route proposal that shows how the community pharmacist may develop his responsibility to contribute to the early detection and appropriate referral of possible cases of the COVID-19. In the route have been considered three possible entrances depending on the needs of the users: anti-flu drugs, symptoms related to COVID-19 infection or the request for items for hygiene and prevention of transmission such as alcohol and face masks. Later, self-care education should be given, and the possible cases should be reported to the telephone lines designated by the mayor or the governor, continuing the healthcare process. Community pharmacies and pharmacy staff play a crucial role in minimizing the stage of "community transmission" of COVID-19, through properly detection and management of possible cases and customer education.

Skills and practices of pharmacy staff for dispensing of drugs with fiscalized substances in drugstores and pharmacies.

OBJETIVE: To evaluate the skills and practices of pharmacy staff during the dispensing of tramadol (drug with fiscalized substance) in drugstores and pharmacies in Medellin, Colombia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed. The simulated patient technique was used. The main outcomes included the information provided on the dispensed drug (tramadol), the use of tools to provide information, and the information provided on drug precautions and use recommendations. RESULTS: We visited 305 drugstores and pharmacies. The average dispensing time was 2.3 min (SD 1.1 min). In nine drugstores and pharmacies (3.0%), tramadol was not dispensed because it was not in stock. In 17 drugstores and pharmacies (5.7%), the simulated patients were actively informed by the dispensing pharmacy staff; of these, 16 provided oral information and one provided oral and written information. Eight patients (2.7%) received information regarding tramadol use. However, 99% of patients were not informed about tramadol side effects such as dependence, sedation, or hypnosis, and none of the simulated female patients were informed on the precautions related to tramadol use during pregnancy or lactation. CONCLUSIONS: Communication skills and appropriate practices of pharmacy staff are critical to patient self-care. However, this study shows their difficulty in counseling about precautions and use recommendations of drugs with fiscalized substances. These outcomes could inform future studies focusing on the rational use of these drugs in drugstores and pharmacies. It is necessary to improve the pharmacy staff competencies through continuing education programs, to facilitate access to information and training.

Potential clinical biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis with an omic approach.

OBJECTIVE: To aid in the selection of the most suitable therapeutic option in patients with diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis according to the phase of disease, through the review of articles that identify omics biological markers. METHODS: A systematic review in PubMed/Medline databases was performed. We searched articles from August 2014 to September 2019, in English and Spanish, filtered by title and full text; and using the terms "Biomarkers" AND "Rheumatoid arthritis". RESULTS: This article supplies an exhaustive review from research of objective measurement, omics biomarkers and how disease activity appraise decrease unpredictability in treatment determinations, and finally, economic, and clinical outcomes of treatment options by biomarkers' potential influence. A total of 122 articles were included. Only 92 met the established criteria for review purposes and 17 relevant references about the topic were included as well. Therefore, it was possible to identify 196 potential clinical biomarkers: 22 non-omics, 20 epigenomics, 33 genomics, 21 transcriptomics, 78 proteomics, 4 glycomics, 1 lipidomics and 17 metabolomics. CONCLUSION: A biomarker is a measurable indicator of some, biochemical, physiological, or morphological condition; evaluable at a molecular, biochemical, or cellular level. Biomarkers work as indicators of physiological or pathological processes, or as a result of a therapeutic management. In the last five years, new biomarkers have been identified, especially the omics, which are those that proceed from the investigation of genes (genomics), metabolites (metabolomics), and proteins (proteomics). These biomarkers contribute to the physician choosing the best therapeutic option in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.