Current situation of rational use of antibiotics in patients with augmented renal clearance / 中国药房

Augmented renal clearance （ARC）refers to the significant enhancement of patients ’renal function ，which is manifested by the significant increase of glomerular filtration rate ，which increases the clearance of drugs ，and the effective blood drug concentration cannot be achieved under the conventional dose. The efficacy of antibiotics is closely related to the concentration. The influence of renal dysfunction on drug metabolism is an important factor that clinicians should consider when determining the dosage. This article reviews the definition ，risk factors ，occurrence mechanism ，evaluation methods of ARC ，as well as its impact on the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of antibiotics and administration methods. It is found that ARC widely exists in critically ill patients ，and the risk factors include age （≤50 years old ），brain trauma ，sepsis，multiple trauma ， etc. When using antibiotics in ARC patients ，the therapeutic effect of drugs can be improved by increasing the dosage ，prolonging the duration of administration and increasing the frequency of administration. However ，in order to prevent adverse reactions caused by high concentration accumulation of drugs ，it is recommended to try to combine treatment drug monitoring.

Use of medicines for covid-19 treatment in patients with loss of kidney function: a narrative review / Medicamentos utilizados no tratamento da covid-19 em pacientes com perda da capacidade funcional renal: uma revisão rápida da literatura

ABSTRACT Covid-19 has been identified as the cause of acute respiratory disease with interstitial and alveolar pneumonia, but it can affect several organs, such as kidneys, heart, blood, nervous system and digestive tract. The disease-causing agent (Sars-CoV-2) has a binding structure to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, enabling entry into cells that express ACE2, such as the pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells. However, studies also indicate the possibility of damage to renal cells, since these cells express high levels of ACE2. Currently, there is no evidence to indicate a specific treatment for covid-19. Several drugs have been used, and some of them may have their excretion process altered in patients with abnormal kidney function. To date, there are no studies that assist health professionals in adjusting the dose of these drugs. Thus, this study aims to review and discuss the topic, taking into account factors associated with kidney injury in covid-19, as well as pharmacokinetic aspects and dose recommendations of the main drugs used for covid-19.

RESUMO A covid-19 foi identificada como a causa de doença respiratória aguda com pneumonia intersticial e alveolar, mas que pode afetar vários órgãos, como rim, coração, sangue, sistema nervoso e trato digestivo. O agente causador da doença (Sars-CoV-2) tem uma estrutura de ligação ao receptor da enzima de conversão da angiotensina 2 (ACE2), permitindo a entrada em células que expressam ACE2, como as células epiteliais alveolares pulmonares. Porém, estudos também indicam a possibilidade de lesão das células renais, uma vez que essas células expressam altos níveis de ACE2. Atualmente, não existem evidências para a indicação de um tratamento específico para a covid-19. Vários medicamentos vêm sendo utilizados, e alguns podem ter o processo de eliminação alterados em pacientes com comprometimento renal. Até o momento, não há estudos que auxiliem os profissionais de saúde no ajuste de dose desses medicamentos. Assim, este estudo tem como objetivo revisar e discutir o tema, levando em consideração os fatores relacionados à lesão renal na covid-19, bem como aspectos farmacocinéticos e recomendações de doses dos principais medicamentos utilizados para covid-19.

Efficacy of the Checksheet for Appropriate Prescription of DOAC / 医薬品情報学

Objective: The use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) has increased because they have some advantages over warfarin, such as fewer interactions and no requirement for coagulation monitoring in principle. DOACs have dose adjustment requirement based on renal function and other complex criteria that differ depending on specific DOAC preparations and indications. At the Nagoya City East Medical Center, DOAC dose‒related decisions previously depended on the knowledge and discretion of individual pharmacists. However, a dose checking sheet for DOACs (the Checking Sheet) was prepared and used on our electronic medical record system since September 2016 to increase the reliability of prescription checking, eliminate improper prescriptions, and ensure electronic documentation of pharmaceutical inquiries. In this study, we compared percentages of proper prescriptions before and after the introduction of the Checking Sheet to assess the effectiveness of its use, which has not been reported previously.Method: The percentage of proper DOAC prescriptions was used as a measure to assess the effectiveness of the Checking Sheet. We investigated DOAC prescriptions from March 2017, when the Checking Sheet system had been established, and compared those with prescriptions from March 2016 (before the Checking Sheet was introduced). Prescriptions of rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban, and dabigatran for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism were included; prescriptions dispensed outside the hospital were excluded.Result: DOAC prescriptions before and after the Checking Sheet introduction were similar in number. The percentage of proper prescriptions increased significantly from 82.4 to 94.3%. Among specific DOAC preparations, the number of improper prescriptions decreased significantly for apixaban and showed a tendency to decrease for rivaroxaban.Conclusion: The increases in the number of proper DOAC prescriptions observed after introducing the Checking Sheet showed that the Checking Sheet helped ensure a certain level of prescription checking, suggesting its usefulness for promoting proper DOAC use.

Effects of position shift and dose adjustment on pass rate of IMRT dose verification / 医疗卫生装备

Objective To analyze the effects of position shift and dose adjustment on the pass rate of IMRT dose verification to facilitate to obtain rapidly high-pass-rate IMRT dose verification report.Methods At first,the dose unit of measuring dose map image and planning Dose Profile was unified.Secondly,the planning Dose Profile was moved at lateral and cephal-ocaudal directions respectively in contrast mode so as to determine the position error with the maximum pass rate.Thirdly,the highest pass rate point of dose verification was found in the range of dose adjustment.Fourthly,the plan report with the highest pass rate of dose verification was found out by adjusting position error and dose coefficient.Results The highest pass rate was obtained in case the displacement was-3 mm at lateral direction or +3 mm at cephal-ocaudal direction;high pass rate was got when dose adjustment coefficient was 1.02;high pass rate was achieved in case the displacement was-3 mm at lateral direction,+2 mm at cephal-ocaudal direction and the dose adjustment coefficient was 1.02,which was significantly different from those with other combined values (P＜0.05).Conclusion The dose verification technique is convenient and quick when used to obtain a high-pass-rate dose verification report.

Insulin Dose Adjustment by a Dietitian.

Background: Locally, experienced dietitians have been teaching carbohydrate counting (CHOC) and associated insulin dose adjustment as per nationally recognised structured patient education programmes for people with type 1 diabetes since 2005. In 2007, the BDA suggested a protocol with organisational approval was best practice to ratify this extended role1. As organisations have a responsibility to ensure competency of staff there is sometimes, understandably, a reluctance to give local agreement without a legal framework to underpin this practice. Dietitians are currently not eligible to do the nonmedical prescribers course2. Methods: People with type 1 diabetes who do not wish to attend secondary care, sit within the level 3 diabetes service in primary care. Following completion of a CHOC workshop, they often opt for e-consultation. This involves submitting electronic charts detailing blood glucose (BG), carbohydrate (CHO) loads and insulin doses for advice. All insulin dose adjustment advice by a dietitian is cross-checked by a prescriber (Diabetes Specialist Nurse DSN) prior to email response. Three case reviews illustrate this process. Discussion: Waiting for a prescriber to okay insulin dose adjustment advice from the dietitian delays email response to patient by an average of 38 hours. A regulatory framework such as a patient group directive or protocol would enable a dietitian to provide this advice in a timely manner. Without organisational support locally, dietitians have been refused this mechanism. Conclusion: This brief abstract provides evidence of on-going safe working of a dietitian in an extended insulin dose adjustment role and reinforces the need for a legal framework to underpin this practice.

Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating: A Role for the Expert Patient?

The Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating (DAFNE) programme of intensive insulin therapy for type 1 diabetes provides a structured educational intervention to improve glycemic control, reduce hypoglycemia and improve quality of life. Enhancement of self-management skills is a key element of DAFNE and patients acquire detailed skills in insulin dose adjustment. Following DAFNE training, patients report improved confidence in their ability to manage their own insulin dosing, but generally still seek and require the assistance of health professionals when making substantial changes to their insulin regimens. Some DAFNE trained patients may be able to assist their peers in aspects of diabetes management within a group environment, but widespread introduction of the expert patient/peer educator role in the self-management of type 1 diabetes, in particular related to insulin dose management, would require formal and detailed evaluation, preferably in randomized controlled clinical trials, before being introduced into routine clinical practice.