Measurement of Polyethylene Glycol 3350 With Standard Household Measuring Devices.

OBJECTIVE: Though standard household measuring devices (e.g., teaspoons, tablespoons) are often used in clinical practice to measure pediatric doses of polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG-3350), no published -literature documents the accuracy of these measurements. Standard dosing for adults is 17 grams, which is 1 capful according to the manufacturer. The objective of this study was to determine the weight of household teaspoons and tablespoons of PEG-3350. METHODS: PEG-3350 measurements were performed using 5 different household measuring teaspoons and tablespoons and the cap that accompanies the bottle for 3 different brands of PEG-3350. Using an electronic balance to determine weights, 3 investigators completed 5 measurements for each of the 5 measurement devices and PEG-3350 bottle caps as follows: leveled teaspoons and tablespoons, unleveled teaspoons and tablespoons, "heaping" tablespoons, half-capfuls, and capfuls. RESULTS: A leveled teaspoonful of PEG-3350 weighed ∼3.3 grams and an unleveled teaspoonful weighed ∼3.7 grams. A leveled, unleveled, and heaping tablespoon of PEG-3350 weighed about 10, 11, and 15 grams, respectively. Heaping tablespoons, half-capfuls, and capfuls resulted in the most measurement variability. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a kitchen scale may be the most precise method of measurement, however not all patients have kitchen scales. Standard household measuring devices (teaspoons and tablespoons) may be used to conveniently measure PEG-3350 doses. Using 1 dedicated measurement device and leveling the dose may improve consistency, which could be beneficial for patients who are sensitive to dose variability.

Assessment of Pharyngitis Management at a University Student Health Services Clinic.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the management of students presenting with pharyngitis to a university health clinic. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Electronic medical records of undergraduate students presenting to a university health clinic from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2014, with complaints of sore throat and a diagnosis code for pharyngitis, tonsillitis, or sore throat were reviewed. RESULTS: Records of 241 patients were screened and 197 patients were included. A rapid antigen detection test (RADT) was obtained in 145 (73.6%) patients. The incidence of group A streptococci (GAS) and non-GAS were 15.2% (30/197) and 10.1% (21/197), respectively. All patients with a positive RADT were prescribed antibiotics, with 13 (46.4%) receiving amoxicillin. Overall, 129 (65%) patients received an antibiotic prescription. CONCLUSION: Management of pharyngitis at the clinic appears inconsistent with current guidelines. Approximately 2 of every 3 students were prescribed an antibiotic with no clear indication.

Academic Careers in Pediatric Pharmacy: Part 2-Academic Advancement.

An increasing number of pediatric clinical pharmacists are pursuing careers in academia. Once in an academic position, questions, challenges and benefits related to the processes of academic evaluation and advancement unique to pediatric academia often arise. This is the second article in a 2-part series that attempts to demystify pediatric faculty positions and address gaps in the literature regarding careers in pediatric-focused academic positions. The purpose of this article is to review key aspects pertaining to academic evaluation and the preparation for and process of academic advancement/promotion. A question and answer format is used to discuss common questions related to these processes and tips for success are provided. This article is primarily intended to be used as a helpful guide for junior faculty members as well as mid-level individuals seeking advancement; however, it will also benefit students, trainees, and practicing pharmacists seeking increased knowledge of pediatric academic career paths.

Comparison of Antibiotic Dosing Before and After Implementation of an Electronic Order Set.

BACKGROUND: To maximize resources, the antimicrobial stewardship program at a pediatric tertiary care hospital made pediatric dosing specific guidance within the electronic health record available to all hospitals within the health system. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the appropriateness of antibiotic dosing before and after the implementation of an electronic intravenous (IV) antibiotic order set. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study evaluating orders from patients younger than 18 years who received cefepime, piperacillin-tazobactam, tobramycin, or gentamicin at 12 health-system hospitals. Antibiotic dosing regimens and order set use were evaluated in patients who received the specified antibiotics during the 6-month time frame prior to and following electronic order set availability at each hospital. RESULTS: In the before and after implementation periods, 360 and 387 total antibiotic orders were included, respectively. Most orders were gentamicin (55.8% in the before implementation period and 54.5% in the after implementation period) followed by piperacillin-tazobactam (22.5% in the before period and 22.2% in the after period). Overall, 663 orders were classified as appropriate (88.8%). Appropriateness was similar in the before or after implementation periods (87.8 vs. 89.7%, p = 0.415). There was a significant difference in appropriateness if a blank order versus the electronic IV antibiotic order set was used (82.8 vs. 90.5%; p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: No difference in antibiotic appropriateness overall was found in the before and after implementation periods. However, when specifically compared with the appropriateness of dosing when blank order forms were used, dosing was more appropriate when electronic antibiotic order sets were used.

Overview and Preparation Guide for Academic Careers in Pediatric Pharmacy, Part 1: Career as a Pediatric Pharmacy Practice Faculty Member.

Pediatric clinical pharmacy is a growing and evolving field with an increasing number of pediatric clinical pharmacists in academia. In 2017, pediatric practice faculty members represented approximately 7.6% of all pharmacy practice faculty in the United States. The benefits of practicing in an academic environment are many, including, but not limited to, the ability to shape the future of pharmacy practice through the training of the next generation of pharmacists, contributing to science through research and scholarly activities for the care of pediatric patients, and positively impacting patient care for the most vulnerable of patients. Part one of this two-part series describes careers in academic pediatric pharmacy, as well as faculty roles and responsibilities, and provides information and advice related to the preparation and transition into careers in academic pediatric pharmacy.

Characterization of the Clinical Outcomes With Cefepime in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to characterize clinical outcomes when cefepime was used in a neonatal intensive care population. METHODS: Data were extracted from the medical records of all full-term (40 weeks gestational age) patients up to 2 months of age and preterm patients up to 48 weeks postmenstrual age admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at a freestanding children's hospital between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2013, who received at least 48 hours of cefepime. The primary outcome measure was a positive clinical response as defined by a normalization of white blood cell count and/or culture clearance. RESULTS: Final analysis included 74 patients. Clinical response was evaluable in 43.2% (32 of 74) of courses. Of these, positive clinical response was observed in 81.3% (26 of 32). Overall patient mortality was 16.2% (12 of 74). Adverse effects (AEs) occurred in 14.9% (11 of 74) of courses. CONCLUSIONS: Cefepime can be used safely with reasonable clinical response in a NICU population, but additional studies are needed to further determine cefepime-associated clinical outcomes.

Clinical Outcomes With Continuous Nafcillin Infusions in Children.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to describe the clinical outcomes of continuous nafcillin infusion in pediatric patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective case study performed at a freestanding, tertiary care children's hospital. Subjects were included if they were at least 30 days old and had received more than 1 dose of nafcillin by continuous infusion (CI) between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2012. Clinical and microbiological data were extracted from the medical record. Documented adverse events potentially associated with nafcillin were recorded. Treatment success was defined by any one of the following outcomes without the presence of conflicting data: microbiological cure, prescriber-documented treatment success, or normalization of abnormal clinical or laboratory parameters. RESULTS: Forty subjects with a median of 9 (interquartile range [IQR], 2.3-12) years of age were included. Median length of stay (in days) for all indications observed was 7 (IQR, 5-21.8) days. Extended lengths of stay, indicated by ≥10 days, were more common in cases of endocarditis, skin and soft tissue infection, and bacteremia. Adverse reactions were documented in 20% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: In this pediatric study, overall treatment success was observed in 92.5% of patients. Microbiological cure was documented in 91.3% of patients by using follow-up cultures. Length of stay may be positively impacted by CI nafcillin. Continuously infused nafcillin appears to be an acceptable alternative to intermittently infused nafcillin in children. Further studies are needed to address the question of whether clinical outcomes of CI nafcillin are superior to those of conventional infusion.

Extended Infusion of Piperacillin/Tazobactam in Children.

OBJECTIVES: Extended-infusion piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP) has been associated with positive clinical outcomes in adults, but similar data in children are lacking. The objective of this study was to describe efficacy outcomes with pediatric patients receiving extended-infusion TZP. METHODS: This was a retrospective case series of children aged 1 month to 17 years who had documented Gram-negative infection and received extended-infusion TZP between April 2011 and March 2012. The primary outcome was 21-day clinical cure defined as negative follow-up cultures, where available, and infection resolution. RESULTS: Fifty children with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of 5 (2-9) years were included in the study. Patients received a median (IQR) TZP dose of 111.4 (100-112.5) mg/kg administered every 8 hours over 4 hours. Clinical and microbiologic cure were observed in 74% and 100% of patients, respectively. Patients not meeting criterial for 21-day clinical cure were younger (1 vs 7 years, p = 0.087) and had a longer length of hospital stay (23 vs 11 days, p = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of children in this cohort achieved 21-day clinical cure with extended-interval TZP. Those without clinical cure tended to be younger and critically ill. Additional comparative studies evaluating traditional and extended-infusion TZP in children are needed.

Pharmacodynamically Guided Levofloxacin Dosing for Pediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

BACKGROUND.: Oral levofloxacin is recommended as a preferred treatment for infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae with a penicillin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ≥4 µg/mL and as an alternative for infection with S pneumoniae with a penicillin MIC of ≤2 µg/mL. To investigate the current dosing recommendations and create a pharmacodynamically guided regimen, a Monte Carlo simulation was performed. METHODS.: The simulation included a previously published 1-compartment model, and incorporated a formula that takes into account age-appropriate weights for hospitalized patients. Three different dosing regimens, including community-acquired pneumonia guideline dosing, inhalational anthrax dosing, and a pharmacodynamically guided regimen, were assessed. The probability of target attainment was described as the proportion of patients who achieve an unbound-drug area under the concentration-time curve over 24 hours divided by the MIC above 33.7 µg/mL per hour. Microbiologic data from 2 stand-alone pediatric tertiary care centers were included. RESULTS.: Guideline-recommended doses of levofloxacin seem to produce suboptimal exposure in patients aged 5-14 years for pneumococci with an MIC of 1 µg/mL. Anthrax dosing was suboptimal in patients aged <5 years and in those aged >15 years. The pharmacodynamically guided regimen maintained a probability of target attainment of >90% for all age groups without producing peak concentrations higher than those previously described. None of the regimens attained the pharmacodynamic targets for a levofloxacin MIC of 2 µg/mL. CONCLUSIONS.: Current dosing recommendations were found to be suboptimal for specific age groups. A pharmacodynamically guided levofloxacin dosing regimen was determined, but it will need to be studied clinically for safety and tolerability.

Optimizing Guideline-Recommended Antibiotic Doses for Pediatric Infective Endocarditis.

The American Heart Association recently published an updated scientific statement on the management of infective endocarditis in childhood. The recommendations included for vancomycin, aminoglycoside, and ß-lactam dosing and monitoring are based primarily on expert opinion and do not consider available evidence for dose optimization based on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles in pediatric patients. This is concerning because even when clinically necessary, some practitioners may be hesitant to deviate from guideline-recommended doses. In this perspective, we highlight potential areas for improvement in the statement-recommended doses and summarize evidence supporting antibiotic dosing optimization. The addition of a pediatric clinical pharmacist with expertise in antibiotic dosing to the panel would be beneficial for future updates.

Pharmacologic Management of Pediatric Hypertension.

Hypertension in children is common, and the prevalence of primary hypertension is increasing with the obesity epidemic and changing dietary choices. Careful measurement of blood pressure is important to correctly diagnose hypertension, as many factors can lead to inaccurate blood pressure measurement. Hypertension is diagnosed based on comparison of age-, sex-, and height-based norms with the average systolic and diastolic blood pressures on three separate occasions. In the absence of hypertensive target organ damage (TOD), stage I hypertension is managed first by diet and exercise, with the addition of drug therapy if this fails. First-line treatment of stage I hypertension with TOD and stage II hypertension includes both lifestyle changes and medications. First-line agents include angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, thiazide diuretics, and calcium-channel blockers. Hypertensive emergency with end-organ effects requires immediate modest blood pressure reduction to alleviate symptoms. This is usually accomplished with IV medications. Long-term reduction in blood pressure to normal levels is accomplished gradually. Specific medication choice for outpatient hypertension management is determined by the underlying cause of hypertension and the comparative adverse effect profiles, along with practical considerations such as cost and frequency of administration. Antihypertensive medication is initiated at a starting dose and can be gradually increased to effect. If ineffective at the recommended maximum dose, an additional medication with a complementary mechanism of action can be added.

Linezolid-Associated Thrombocytopenia in Children With Renal Impairment.

Impaired renal function has been associated with an increased risk of thrombocytopenia in adults receiving linezolid. Findings from this retrospective cohort demonstrate an association between thrombocytopenia and lower creatinine clearance in children receiving linezolid.

Late-Occurring Vancomycin-Associated Acute Kidney Injury in Children Receiving Prolonged Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients receiving vancomycin has been associated with trough concentrations ≥15 mg/L and longer therapy duration. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and factors associated with late AKI in children receiving ≥8 days of vancomycin therapy. METHODS: Children aged 30 days to 17 years who were admitted to our institution and received intravenous vancomycin for at least 8 days during January to December of 2007 and 2010 and had a suspected or proven gram-positive infection were included. Late AKI was categorized as AKI occurring after the first 7 days of therapy and within 48 hours following vancomycin discontinuation. The primary outcome was incidence of late AKI as determined by modified pRIFLE criteria. RESULTS: One-hundred sixty-seven patients were included, with a median (interquartile range) age (years) and weight (kg) of 2 (1-7) and 12.5 (8.9-23.8). Late AKI was identified in 12.6% (21/167). A higher percentage of late AKI patients received concomitant treatment with intravenous acyclovir, amphotericin products, or piperacillin-tazobactam. Age <1 year was the only factor independently associated with late AKI development (odds ratio = 4.4; 95% confidence interval = 1.3-15.4). CONCLUSIONS: Late AKI occurred in nearly 13% of children receiving ≥8 days of vancomycin therapy. This study suggests that vancomycin trough concentrations are not associated with late AKI, but that age <1 year and concomitant administration of certain nephrotoxins may be factors associated with increased risk.

Success With Extended-Infusion Meropenem After Recurrence of Baclofen Pump-Related Achromobacter Xylosoxidans Meningitis in an Adolescent.

A 13-year-old female experienced a recurrence of baclofen pump-related central nervous system (CNS) infection caused by Achromobacter, despite absence of retained foreign material. Due to the failure of meropenem (120 mg/kg/d in divided doses every 8 hours and infused over 30 minutes) in the initial infection, the dose was infused over 4 hours during the recurrence. Meropenem is an antibiotic for which efficacy is time dependent, and 4-hour versus 30-minute infusions have been shown to prolong the time the concentration of the antibiotic exceeds the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the organism at the site of infection (T>MIC). Meropenem serum concentrations were obtained and indicated that T>MIC was at least 75% of the dosing interval. Our patient improved with no noted recurrences or adverse effects on the extended-infusion meropenem regimen. Utilization of extended-infusion beta-lactam dosing whenever possible in the treatment of serious infections caused by gram-negative organisms should be considered, as this dosing appears to be safe and improves the probability of achieving pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic goals.

Antimicrobial prophylaxis for external ventricular drains in pediatric neurosurgical patients.

BACKGROUND: Our goal was to describe the use of antibiotics for surgical prophylaxis of external ventricular drains (EVDs) in a pediatric neurosurgical population and determine the incidence of EVD-related infections among different antimicrobial prophylaxis strategies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: This retrospective chart review included patients up to 18 years old who underwent EVD insertion at either of two tertiary care academic hospitals in the same health system between August 1, 2008, and July 31, 2012. Patients were included if they received at least one dose of antibiotics before EVD insertion. Patients who received only perioperative antibiotics were compared with those who also received antibiotics after this period. The primary endpoint was incidence of EVD-related infection. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize baseline characteristics and compare antibiotic regimens between groups. Pearson's chi square and Mann Whitney U tests compared nonparametric data. RESULTS: A total of 182 EVD insertions were documented, and 88 included in the study. Of these 88, 27 were associated only with perioperative doses of antibiotics, and 61 with prolonged antibiotic use. Baseline characteristics and antibiotic choices were similar between the groups. At least 55 (63%) catheters were antibiotic-impregnated, but types of catheters couldn't be compared between groups due to insufficient data. No central nervous system infections were identified in either group, so the primary objective could not be evaluated statistically. CONCLUSION: No infections were identified in any study subjects during EVD treatment. An adequately powered, multi-center prospective study should be performed to determine if prolonged use of antibiotics beyond the perioperative period is of benefit.

Acid-Suppressing Agents and Risk for Clostridium difficile Infection in Pediatric Patients.

BACKGROUND: Acid-suppressing agents have been associated with increased Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in adults. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of acid-suppressing therapy with the development of CDI in the pediatric population. METHODS: This was a retrospective case-control study. Children aged 1 through 17 years with a positive C difficile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result obtained between June 1, 2008, and June 1, 2012, were randomly matched to a control population selected from patients with negative PCR. RESULTS: A total of 458 children were included. No difference was observed in acid-suppressive therapy prior to PCR in CDI-positive versus -negative patients (n = 131 [57.2%] vs n = 121 [52.8%], P = .348). Among patients receiving acid-suppressing therapy prior to obtaining a PCR, no difference was observed in proton pump inhibitor use (45% vs 46.3%, P = .843), but histamine-2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) use was greater in the CDI-positive patients (32.8% vs 14.9%, P = .001). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that H2RA therapy at home (odds ratio = 4.6; 95% confidence interval = 1.5-14.5) was an independent CDI predictor. CONCLUSION: In this pediatric population, CDI risk in children receiving home acid-suppressive therapy with H2RAs is nearly 4.5 times greater than that of children not receiving H2RA therapy. These results suggest the need for continued monitoring and study of H2RA therapy in children.

Implementing extended-infusion cefepime as standard of care in a children's hospital: a prospective descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Extended-infusion cefepime (EIC) has been associated with decreased mortality in adults, but to our knowledge, there are no studies in children. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of implementing EIC as the standard dosing strategy in a pediatric population. METHODS: This was a descriptive study of children aged 1 month to 17 years, including patients in the intensive care unit, who received cefepime after admission to a freestanding, tertiary care children's hospital. Patients were excluded if they were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit or received cefepime in the outpatient, operating, or emergency department areas. Demographic and clinical data for patients who received cefepime from April through August 2013, the period following EIC implementation, were extracted from the medical records. RESULTS: A total of 150 patients were included in the study, with a median age (interquartile range [IQR]) of 6 years (2-12.3 years) and median weight (IQR) of 20.7 kg (13.2-42.8 kg); 143 patients received cefepime via extended infusions, and 10 (7.0%) of those were changed to a 30-minute infusion during treatment. The most common reasons for infusion time change were intravenous (IV) incompatibility and IV access concerns, responsible for 50% of changes. Dosing errors and reported incidents during therapy were sparse (n = 12, 8.0%) and were most commonly related to renal dosing errors and/or initial dose error by prescriber. CONCLUSIONS: Because 93.0% of the patients who initially received EIC remained on EIC, implementation of EIC as the standard dosing strategy was feasible in this pediatric hospital.

Compatibility of Vancomycin and Oxacillin During Simulated Y-Site Delivery.

BACKGROUND: Vancomycin and oxacillin may be used together as empiric coverage in patients with proven or suspected Staphylococcus aureus infections. Though vancomycin hydrochloride 20 mg/mL and oxacillin sodium 160 mg/mL are reported to be compatible via Y-site delivery, Y-site compatibility of commonly used concentrations, vancomycin 10 mg/mL and oxacillin 20 mg/mL, has not yet been reported. OBJECTIVE: To determine the Y-site compatibility of vancomycin 10 mg/mL and oxacillin 20 mg/mL. METHODS: One vancomycin hydrochloride 1 g vial was reconstituted with 10 mL sterile water for injection (SWFI) and diluted with 90 mL 5% dextrose in water (D5W) in an evacuated intravenous (IV) bag. One oxacillin sodium 2 g vial was reconstituted with 11.5 mL sterile water for injection and diluted with 88 mL sterile water for injection in an evacuated IV bag. Three mL of each vancomycin and oxacillin were mixed in 4 test tubes to simulate Y-site delivery. Spectrometry, pH evaluation, and visual examination were performed for each test tube immediately following mixing and at 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 2 hours after mixing. RESULTS: Upon visual examination with multiple backgrounds, a white precipitant was immediately evident in the test tubes with vancomycin and oxacillin combined. Spectrometry results strongly supported evidence of precipitation throughout the duration of the experiment. CONCLUSIONS: Vancomycin 10 mg/mL and oxacillin 20 mg/mL were determined to be physically incompatible for Y-site delivery in this study, despite prior evidence that the 2 medications in different concentrations were suitable for Y-site co-administration.

Cinacalcet administration by gastrostomy tube in a child receiving peritoneal dialysis.

A 2-year-old male with chronic kidney disease with secondary hyperparathyroidism developed hypercalcemia while receiving calcitriol, without achieving a serum parathyroid hormone concentration within the goal range. Cinacalcet 15 mg (1.2 mg/kg), crushed and administered via gastrostomy tube, was added to the patient's therapy. This therapy was effective in achieving targeted laboratory parameters in our patient despite instructions in the prescribing information that cinacalcet should always be taken whole.

Optimized antimicrobial dosing strategies: a survey of pediatric hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Extended-interval aminoglycoside (EIAG) and extended- and continuous-infusion ß-lactam (EIBL and CIBL) dosing strategies are increasingly used in adults, but pediatric literature is limited. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe the use of EIAG, EIBL, and CIBL dosing in pediatric hospitals in the USA. STUDY DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A national survey of children's hospitals was conducted. A single practitioner from each target hospital was identified through the Children's Hospital Association. Practice-based survey questions identified whether hospitals utilize EIAG, EIBL, and CIBL dosing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The main outcome measure was the percentage utilization of the dosing strategies, with secondary outcomes being the reasons for not using these dosing strategies. RESULTS: Seventy-seven of 215 identified practitioners (36 %) participated in the survey. EIAG, EIBL, and CIBL dosing were utilized in 63 %, 24 %, and 13 % of responding hospitals, respectively. The most common reasons for not using EIAG were concern regarding lack of efficacy data (56 %) and concern regarding the duration of the drug-free period (41 %). Respondents who did not utilize EIBL cited concern due to lack of pediatric EIBL efficacy data (54 %), the need for more intravenous access (54 %), intravenous medication compatibility issues (39 %), and the time during which the patient is attached to an intravenous infusion (31 %). CONCLUSION: This survey of children's hospitals indicates that EIAG is used in over 50 % of hospitals, but there is some lag in adoption of EIBL and CIBL dosing, both of which are used in fewer than 25 % of hospitals. Additional studies may provide much-needed evidence to increase the utilization of these strategies.