Improving Utilization of a Nursing-Initiated Supportive Medication Order Panel in the Inpatient Setting.

BACKGROUND: Many medications are low-risk but must undergo the same ordering process as high-risk medications in the inpatient setting. Nurses identify the need for supportive medications and notify providers. An order panel and policy were developed to allow nurses to order low-risk, supportive medications. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to increase order panel utilization from a 6% to a goal of 15%. METHODS: This was a quality improvement study at a 1000-bed academic medical center. Five plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles were implemented. The primary end point was order panel utilization, and secondary end points were individual nursing unit utilization and the number of orders for each medication on the panel. RESULTS: After each PDSA cycle, order panel utilization improved to 7.8%, 13.2%, 7.5%, 10.2%, and 10.6%, respectively. The units using the order panel most often were general medicine (n = 95, 28%), medical intensive care (n = 71, 21%), and inpatient oncology (n = 40, 12%). The medication most frequently ordered was lanolin alcohols-mineral oil with petrolatum (Eucerin) cream (n = 220, 28%). CONCLUSIONS: Order panel utilization improved from a baseline of 6% to an average of 9.9%. Increasing awareness of the order panel and adding medications will contribute to improvement in order panel utilization in the long-term.

Evaluation of the safety of inpatient empagliflozin in a real-world setting.

Background: Empagliflozin is a sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor recommended by the American Diabetes Association for outpatient use. Support for its inpatient role is not well established due to possible safety concerns. Methods: This was a retrospective study at an academic medical center between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021, evaluating the safety and efficacy of empagliflozin compared to other oral antihyperglycemic agents. Patients with established heart failure with or without diabetes were included if they received at least one dose of oral antihyperglycemic agent with 48 hours of fingerstick blood glucose checks during the hospitalization. A total of 227 patients were included. The primary endpoint was a composite of adverse events including urinary tract infection, acute kidney injury, diabetic ketoacidosis, renal replacement therapy, and necrotizing fasciitis. Additional endpoints included daily insulin requirements, hypoglycemia, and hypotension. Results: Rates of composite adverse events were similar between the empagliflozin group and other oral antihyperglycemic agents (19.3% vs. 12.6% respectively, P = 0.17). There were no instances of renal replacement therapy, diabetic ketoacidosis, or necrotizing fasciitis. The secondary endpoint of basal insulin requirements showed no differences between the two groups. In the empagliflozin cohort, more patients experienced hypotension (23.4% vs. 7.8%; P < 0.01). Conclusion: This real-world study of empagliflozin use in the inpatient setting found no significant differences in safety endpoints between empagliflozin and other oral antihyperglycemic agents. Larger-scale studies need to be performed before the use of empagliflozin can be routinely recommended in the inpatient setting.

Fidaxomicin-Associated Hypersensitivity Reactions: Report of a Morbilliform Drug Eruption.

PurposeWe report a probable case of morbilliform drug eruption secondary to fidaxomicin in a patient with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Summary: A 62-year-old female presented to our institution's emergency department (ED) with symptoms consistent with Clostridioides difficile infection. The patient was prescribed 2 weeks of oral vancomycin for CDI prior to presentation. Given insufficient response to vancomycin, the patient was started on fidaxomicin with a planned 10-day course. After 2 doses of fidaxomicin, the patient developed a rash on her back that spread within 24 hours. The patient did not experience relief upon administration of a variety of medications for allergic reaction. Improvement was noted upon discontinuation of fidaxomicin. The Food and Drug Administration reports that < 2% of adults treated with fidaxomicin experience a rash as an adverse effect. Conclusion: Fidaxomicin was a probable cause of morbilliform drug eruption in our patient with CDI. The patient improved upon discontinuation of fidaxomicin.

Ketamine in Refractory Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

PURPOSE: To describe the use of ketamine in an adult patient in aborting a cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) episode. SUMMARY: A 40-year-old man with a history of CVS was admitted after several days of nausea and vomiting. He was given parenteral doses of lorazepam and ondansetron but was unable to remain emesis-free. Ketamine was recommended by Gastroenterology as a therapeutic option after exhausting all first- and second-line agents. Ketamine is a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist that is widely used for its analgesic and sedative effects. While there is some data to support its use in CVS, most of the published literature has been limited to the Emergency Department setting and no specific therapeutic dose has been established. We will review our institution's experience with low dose ketamine in an adult patient with a CVS episode that is refractory to first-line agents. CONCLUSION: In the case described, ketamine at a low sub-anesthetic dose successfully aborted a CVS episode with no appreciable side effects. As much of ketamine's full effects remain relatively unknown, additional studies are needed to determine optimal strategies for ketamine use in patients with a CVS episode.

Evaluation of Anti-Xa Apixaban and Rivaroxaban Levels With Respect to Known Doses in Relation to Major Bleeding Events.

BACKGROUND: Although not routinely recommended, anti-Xa level monitoring for apixaban or rivaroxaban may be useful in certain clinical scenarios. There are currently no laboratory standards, therapeutic ranges, or proven correlation between anti-Xa levels and clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study describes the utilization, application, and association of anti-Xa levels with clinical outcomes in patients receiving apixaban or rivaroxaban. METHODS: This retrospective, descriptive study included adult inpatients within the Houston Methodist System on apixaban or rivaroxaban with at least one anti-Xa level ordered subsequent to administered doses. The primary endpoint was major bleeding according to International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis criteria. Secondary endpoints included reasons for anti-Xa level ordering, anti-Xa levels at different time intervals post-dose, and thrombotic events. Pre-specified subgroup analyses were performed to further evaluate the primary endpoint. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 169 patients and 234 anti-Xa levels. Twenty-nine levels were obtained in context of major bleeding. The majority of levels were not drawn as peak levels 2-4 hours post-dose, however remained quantifiable above typical observed levels within this timeframe and well beyond 24 hours post-dose. Patient characteristics with major bleeding included elderly age, acute renal impairment, and low body weight. At least 14 unique reasons for anti-Xa level ordering were identified. Twenty-nine levels were associated with thrombotic events. CONCLUSION: Anti-Xa levels may be useful for assessment of current drug concentrations, immediate safety of therapy, and guidance for possible clinical interventions. Dose titration and reversal therapies based on anti-Xa level results in major bleeding warrant further research.

Evaluating Time to In-Hospital Venous Thromboembolism in Obese Patients.

BACKGROUND: Currently, no consensus approach exists for optimal venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) patients. Time to development of in-hospital VTE is not well studied. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates time to in-hospital VTE in obese patients. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective study evaluated obese patients that developed an in-hospital VTE. Patients were categorized into 3 BMI groups: 30 to 34.9 (group 1), 35 to 39.9 (group 2), and ≥40 (group 3) kg/m2. The primary end point compared time to VTE between the groups. RESULTS: A total of 246 patients were included, and time to VTE was similar between the groups, 8 (group 1) versus 8 (group 2) versus 9 days (group 3); P = .38. Secondary outcomes showed time to VTE was shorter in acute care versus ICU patients (7.5 vs 10 days; P = .01), nonsurgical versus surgical patients (6 vs 9 days; P = .004), and no prophylaxis versus mechanical plus pharmacologic prophylaxis (4.5 vs 9 days; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: BMI category did not significantly impact time to in-hospital VTE. This study provides insight into the timing of in-hospital VTE in obese patients. The differences in prophylactic strategies highlight the importance of optimized prophylaxis.

Time to Occurrence Based on Risk Stratification of Hospital-Acquired Venous Thromboembolism: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: In-hospital venous thromboembolism (VTE) causes significant morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. The objective of our study is to determine the time to in-hospital VTE based on baseline risk stratification. METHODS: All adult patients admitted to a 900-bed academic tertiary referral hospital who developed a VTE during hospital admission from September 1, 2011, to June 30, 2015, were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were excluded if they were younger than 18 years or if the VTE was present on admission. RESULTS: The cohort included 400 patients, 224 (56%) males, median age 66 years. The median time to VTE was 8 days. Significant differences in time to VTE existed between the risk groups. CONCLUSION: Time to VTE in a broad hospitalized patient population differs based on admission risk group. This finding highlights the importance of performing risk assessment upon admission and subsequently with clinical changes to assess increases in risk scores.