[Antibiotic stewardship programs in the Spanish emergency services: PROA-URG Study]. / Programas de optimización del uso de antimicrobianos en los servicios de urgencias españoles: Estudio PROA-URG.

OBJECTIVE: Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) have become a key tool in the adaptation of these drugs to the health system. The information available on the application and indicators used in these programs in emergency departments is scarce. The objective of this study is to know the extent of ASP implementation in the emergency departments, as well as the use of antimicrobials in these units. METHODS: Multicenter retrospective study. An invitation was sent to all participants of the REDFASTER-SEFH emergency pharmacist working group. A questionnaire was used consisting of 21 items, answered by a team made up of a pharmacist, emergency room specialist, infectious disease specialist and microbiologist. RESULTS: Eighteen hospitals completed the survey. Fourteen (77.8%) had an ASP manager. The DDD value per 1000 admissions ranged between 36.5 and 400.5 (median: 100.4 [IQR:57.2-157.3]). Both carbapenem and macrolide group presented wide variability in use. Six (33.3%) hospitals had an annual report on the specific resistance profile for urine and blood cultures. The percentage of multi-drug resistant strains in urine cultures was 12.5% and in blood cultures 12.2%. The percentage of adequacy in the bacteremia treatment was 81.0% (IQR:74.6-85.0%), while in urinary tract infections was 78.0% (IQR:71.5-88.0). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the existence of ASP members in emergency services, as well as the training activity and local guidelines is common. knowledge of the use of antimicrobials and resistances is limited. Future activities must be aimed at improving information about the ASP results in these units.

Incidence of pulmonary embolism in non-critically ill COVID-19 patients. Predicting factors for a challenging diagnosis.

Recent studies suggest that thrombotic complications are a common phenomenon in the novel SARS-CoV-2 infection. The main objective of our study is to assess cumulative incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) in non critically ill COVID-19 patients and to identify its predicting factors associated to the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. We retrospectevely reviewed 452 electronic medical records of patients admitted to Internal Medicine Department of a secondary hospital in Madrid during Covid 19 pandemic outbreak. We included 91 patients who underwent a multidetector Computed Tomography pulmonary angiography(CTPA) during conventional hospitalization. The cumulative incidence of PE was assessed ant the clinical, analytical and radiological characteristics were compared between patients with and without PE. PE incidence was 6.4% (29/452 patients). Most patients with a confirmed diagnosed with PE recieved low molecular weight heparin (LMWH): 79.3% (23/29). D-dimer peak was significatly elevated in PE vs non PE patients (14,480 vs 7230 mcg/dL, p = 0.03). In multivariate analysis of patients who underwent a CTPA we found that plasma D-dimer peak was an independen predictor of PE with a best cut off point of > 5000 µg/dl (OR 3.77; IC95% (1.18-12.16), p = 0.03). We found ninefold increased risk of PE patients not suffering from dyslipidemia (OR 9.06; IC95% (1.88-43.60). Predictive value of AUC for ROC is 75.5%. We found a high incidence of PE in non critically ill hospitalized COVID 19 patients despite standard thromboprophylaxis. An increase in D-dimer levels is an independent predictor for PE, with a best cut-off point of > 5000 µg/ dl.

[Drug exposure associated with exacerbation of symptoms in patients with myasthenia gravis]. / Exposición a fármacos asociados a agravamiento de síntomas en pacientes con miastenia grave.

INTRODUCTION: Numerous drugs have been related to exacerbation of myasthenia gravis. So far there are no studies examining the extent of use of drugs related to exacerbation of myasthenia gravis. AIMS: We sought to assess the extent of use of drugs related to exacerbations and the annual incidence rate of exacerbations in a cohort of myasthenia gravis patients. We explored possible risk factors of severe exacerbations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study. We included adult patients followed in neurology department. We estimated frequencies, rates and built a recurrent events model. RESULTS: We included 91 patients. 94.51% of patients had at least one prescription of a drug. 51 patients had at least one prescription of a drug contraindicated according to its drug label. 145 exacerbation episodes were reported in 50 patients. The annual incidence rate of exacerbation episodes was 0.35. 48 exacerbations were severe (in 18 patients). The annual incidence rate of severe exacerbation episodes was 0.12. Generalized myasthenia gravis and thymectomy were associated with a higher risk of severe exacerbation episodes. CONCLUSIONS: Our patients were extensive and widespread exposed to drugs during the follow-up period but we did not find and association with severe exacerbation episodes. Just over half of the patients had at least one exacerbation episode during the study period, most of them were mild. Further studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to corroborate these conclusions and to study possible correlations between the use of drugs and the risk of exacerbation episodes.

TITLE: Exposición a fármacos asociados a agravamiento de síntomas en pacientes con miastenia grave.Introducción. Numerosos fármacos se han relacionado con el agravamiento de síntomas en pacientes con miastenia grave, pero hasta la fecha no existen estudios sobre la exposición a fármacos en estos pacientes. Objetivos. Describir el consumo de fármacos y calcular la tasa anual de episodios de exacerbación en una cohorte de pacientes con miastenia grave, y explorar posibles factores de riesgo de exacerbaciones graves. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio observacional longitudinal retrospectivo que incluye a pacientes adultos con miastenia grave seguidos en consulta. Cálculo de frecuencias, tasas y construcción de modelo de eventos repetidos. Resultados. De 91 pacientes incluidos, el 94,51% estuvo expuesto al menos a un fármaco durante el período de estudio (siete años y un mes). De ellos, 51 tuvieron al menos una prescripción de un fármaco contraindicado en la ficha técnica (56,04%). Se contabilizaron 145 exacerbaciones en 50 pacientes. La tasa anual de incidencia fue de 0,35 exacerbaciones por paciente y año. De estas exacerbaciones, 48 fueron graves (en 18 pacientes), con una tasa anual de incidencia de 0,12. Se halló una posible asociación entre diagnóstico de miastenia grave generalizada y timectomía, con un aumento del riesgo de episodios de exacerbación graves. Conclusiones. En esta cohorte se encontró una amplia exposición a fármacos, pero no asociación con el riesgo de episodios de exacerbación graves. Algo más de la mitad de pacientes tuvo al menos un episodio de exacerbación durante el período de estudio, la mayoría leves. Son necesarios estudios que corroboren estas conclusiones y puedan estudiar posibles correlaciones entre fármacos y el riesgo de episodios de exacerbación.

Encefalopatía hiperamonémica en un paciente tratado con 5-fluorouracilo / Hyperammonemic encephalopathy in a patient treated with 5-fluorouracil

No disponible

Desarrollo, implantación y evaluación de un programa de prescripción electrónica asistida de medicamentos en un hospital / Development, implementation and evaluation of an electronic drug prescribing program in a hospital

Objetivo: Desarrollar e implantar herramientas seguras y eficaces para la prescripción electrónica de los tratamientos farmacológicos. Material y método: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica para cada medicamento o principio activo incluido en la Guía Farmacoterapéutica del Hospital para recoger información acerca de sus interacciones y ajustes posológicos en insuficiencia renal. Se elaboró una base de datos con 62 interacciones clínicamente relevantes y otra de 531 fármacos con recomendaciones posológicas o de monitorización en función del grado de insuficiencia renal (IR). Resultados: La integración de la base de datos de IR permite que desde el Servicio de Farmacia se pueda seleccionar a los pacientes con alteración en la función renal que tienen prescritos medicamentos que requieren ajuste posológico y asesorar sobre las recomendaciones individualizadamente, incorporando esta información a la historia clínica electrónica. Conclusión: esta herramienta, ha mejorado el programa de prescripción electrónica, convirtiéndolo en una prescripción electrónica asistida (AU)

Objetive: Develop and implement safe and effective tools for computer provider order entry to serve as clinical decision support. Material and methods: A literature review was performed for each drug included in the Hospital's pharmaceutical guide for collecting information on clinically relevant drug interactions and dose adjustments in renal failure Results: A database with 62 clinically relevant interactions was developed and integrated into the hospital information program. When an interaction is detected at the time of prescribing an alert is generated to report on its consequences and alternatives. Another database with 531 drugs with dosing or monitoring recommendations specific to the degree of renal failure in each patient was developed and integrated into the hospital information system, so that from the Pharmacy Department we can select patients with impaired renal function who have been prescribed drugs that require dose adjustment and advise on the dosage recommendations for each patient. Conclusion: Due to the development and implementation of these tools, we have improved our computer provider order entry with a clinical decision support system (AU)

Meta-análisis sobre la eficacia de la estrategia de monoterapia con inhibidores de la proteasa potenciados en pacientes VIH+ / Meta-analysis of the effectiveness of the strategy of monotherapy with boosted protease inhibitors in HIV+ patients

Introducción El objetivo del presente trabajo es analizar la evidencia disponible sobre la eficacia de la estrategia de inducción mantenimiento con inhibidores de proteasa potenciados con ritonavir en pacientes adultos VIH respecto al tratamiento convencional. Métodos Se realizó un meta-análisis de ensayos aleatorizados y controlados en pacientes VIH para comparar la eficacia de una estrategia de monoterapia con inhibidores de proteasa potenciados frente al tratamiento antirretroviral convencional. La búsqueda bibliográfica se realizó en PubMed, EMBASE (septiembre 1999–septiembre 2009) y en resúmenes de congresos de los últimos 5 años. Se calcularon los Odds Ratio del fracaso terapéutico y sus intervalos de confianza del 95%. Para combinar los resultados de los estudios individuales seleccionados, se empleó un modelo de efectos fijos basado en el método de Mantel-Haenszel o de efectos aleatorios, en función de que exista o no heterogeneidad en los resultados. Resultados Se localizaron inicialmente un total de 1.510 publicaciones, de las que solo 8 estudios cumplieron los criterios de inclusión en el meta-análisis. El Odds Ratio combinado de los 8 estudios es de 1,39 (IC 95% 1,02–1,90) a favor del grupo de tratamiento con tratamiento antirretroviral convencional, pero con un intervalo de confianza cercano a los límites de la no significación estadística. Conclusión Los resultados del análisis de eficacia combinado en el meta-análisis no encuentran diferencias significativas entre la estrategia convencional y la monoterapia. Esta estrategia se considera recomendable (nivel A de evidencia) en pacientes sin historia de fracaso previo a inhibidores de la proteasa, con carga viral plasmática indetectable y signos o síntomas de toxicidad por análogos de nucleósidos/nucleótidos (AU)

Introduction The objective of this study is to analyse the available evidence regarding the effectiveness of the strategy of induction maintenance with boosted protease inhibitors with ritonavir in adult HIV patients as compared to conventional treatment. Methods We performed a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials in HIV patients to compare the efficacy of a monotherapy strategy of boosted protease inhibitors as compared with conventional antiretroviral therapy. The literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE (September 1999–September 2009) and in conference abstracts of the last 5 years. The Odds Ratio of treatment failure and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated. To combine the results of individual studies selected, a fixed effects model based on the Mantel-Haenszel method or random effects was used, depending on whether or not the results were heterogeneous. Results Initially a total of 1510 publications were found, of which just 8 studies met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The combined Odds Ratio of the 8 studies is 1.39 (95% CI 1.02–1.90) for the treatment group with conventional antiretroviral treatment, but with a confidence interval close to the limits of statistical non-significance. Conclusion The results of the combined effectiveness analysis in the meta-analysis found no significant differences between the conventional strategy and monotherapy. This strategy is considered recommended (level A evidence) in patients with no history of previous failure of protease inhibitor, with undetectable plasma viral load and signs or symptoms of nucleoside/nucleotide toxicity (AU)

[Meta-analysis of the effectiveness of the strategy of monotherapy with boosted protease inhibitors in HIV+ patients]. / Meta-análisis sobre la eficacia de la estrategia de monoterapia con inhibidores de la proteasa potenciados en pacientes VIH+

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study is to analyse the available evidence regarding the effectiveness of the strategy of induction maintenance with boosted protease inhibitors with ritonavir in adult HIV patients as compared to conventional treatment. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials in HIV patients to compare the efficacy of a monotherapy strategy of boosted protease inhibitors as compared with conventional antiretroviral therapy. The literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE (September 1999-September 2009) and in conference abstracts of the last 5 years. The Odds Ratio of treatment failure and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated. To combine the results of individual studies selected, a fixed effects model based on the Mantel-Haenszel method or random effects was used, depending on whether or not the results were heterogeneous. RESULTS: Initially a total of 1510 publications were found, of which just 8 studies met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The combined Odds Ratio of the 8 studies is 1.39 (95% CI 1.02-1.90) for the treatment group with conventional antiretroviral treatment, but with a confidence interval close to the limits of statistical non-significance. CONCLUSION: The results of the combined effectiveness analysis in the meta-analysis found no significant differences between the conventional strategy and monotherapy. This strategy is considered recommended (level A evidence) in patients with no history of previous failure of protease inhibitor, with undetectable plasma viral load and signs or symptoms of nucleoside/nucleotide toxicity.

[Vitamins stability in parenteral nutrition]. / Estabilidad de vitaminas en nutrición parenteral.

OBJECTIVE: Some decades ago, several studies were published describing vitamins degradation in parenteral nutrition (PN) and their catalysis by oligoelements such as copper. Thus, the practice of administering oligoelements and vitamins every other day and adding them the same day of PN was implemented. Today, in many Spanish hospitals these recommendations are still being followed although currently different products, type of containers, and ways of administration are used. The purpose of this review is to determine whether combined administration of vitamins and oligoelements with PN is recommended and how many days they remain stable while refrigerated under the current conditions of preparation and administration of PN. SETTING: We have reviewed the articles on vitamins stability in PN published after 1990. RESULTS: The results are controversial with vitamin A, although "all-in-one" administration and photo-protection remarkably decrease its degradation and there seems to be no difference between adding the vitamin before its administration and doing so previously. Vitamin E is stable with photo-protection for 3-7 days under refrigeration plus one additional day at room temperature if multilayered bags are used. Thiamine is stable if bisulfites-free amino acids solutions are used. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that vitamins and oligoelements may be administered together and PN be prepared before use if "all-in-one" photo-protected multilayered bags and bisulfite-free amino acids solutions are used.

Estabilidad de vitaminas en nutrición parenteral / Vitamins stability in parenteral nutrition

Objetivo: Hace algunas décadas se publicaron varios estudios describiendo la degradación de vitaminas en nutrición parenteral (NP) y su catalización por oligoelementos tales como el cobre. Por ello se instauró la práctica de administrar oligoelementos y vitaminas a días alternos y aditivarlos el mismo día de la administración. Todavía muchos hospitales españoles siguen estas recomendaciones aunque actualmente se utilizan productos, tipo de material del envase y formas de administración distintas de las de entonces. El objetivo de esta revisión es determinar si en las condiciones actuales de preparación y administración de NP sería recomendable la administración conjunta de vitaminas y oligoelementos y cuantos días serían estables en refrigeración antes de su administración. Ámbito: Se han revisado los artículos sobre estabilidad de vitaminas en NP publicados posteriormente a 1990. Resultados: Con la vitamina A hay resultados contradictorios pero la administración "todo en uno" y la fotoprotección disminuyen considerablemente su degradación y parece que no existen diferencias entre añadir la vitamina antes de su administración o hacerlo con anterioridad. La vitamina E se muestra estable con fotoprotección durante 3-7 días en refrigeración más un día a temperatura ambiente. La vitamina C es estable junto a oligoelementos en bolsas multicapa por 2-7 días en refrigeración más un día a temperatura ambiente. La tiamina es estable si se utilizan soluciones de aminoácidos que no contengan bisulfitos. Conclusiones: Se concluye que se pueden administrar conjuntamente vitaminas y oligoelementos y preparar la NP con anterioridad a su administración cuando se utiliza NP "todo en uno", bolsas multicapa, soluciones de aminoácidos sin bisulfitos y fotoprotección (AU)

Objective: Some decades ago, several studies were published describing vitamins degradation in parenteral nutrition (PN) and their catalysis by oligoelements such as copper. Thus, the practice of administering oligoelements and vitamins every other day and adding them the same day of PN was implemented. Today, in many Spanish hospitals these recommendations are still being followed although currently different products, type of containers, and ways of administration are used. The purpose of this review is to determine whether combined administration of vitamins and oligoelements with PN is recommended and how many days they remain stable while refrigerated under the current conditions of preparation and administration of PN. Setting: We have reviewed the articles on vitamins stability in PN published after 1990. Results: The results are controversial with vitamin A, although "all-in-one" administration and photo-protection remarkably decrease its degradation and there seems to be no difference between adding the vitamin before its administration and doing so previously. Vitamin E is stable with photo-protection for 3-7 days under refrigeration plus one additional day at room temperature if multilayered bags are used. Thiamine is stable if bisulfites-free amino acids solutions are used. Conclusions: We conclude that vitamins and oligoelements may be administered together and PN be prepared before use if "all-in-one" photo-protected multilayered bags and bisulfite-free amino acids solutions are used (AU)