Impact of a pharmacist-driven recombinant zoster vaccine administration program.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a pharmacist-driven recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) administration pilot program within a human immunodeficiency virus/infectious diseases clinic setting increased the completion of the 2-dose series when compared with standard care. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, the patients enrolled in a pharmacist-driven RZV administration pilot program (intervention) were compared with those in provider-directed RZV education (standard care) for completion of the 2-dose vaccine series. RESULTS: One hundred nineteen patients were included (standard care [n = 84], intervention intention to treat [ITT, n = 35], and intervention modified ITT [mITT, n = 23]). There was increased completion of the 2-dose vaccine series in the intervention cohort compared with the standard care cohort (ITT 66% and mITT 100% vs. 23%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The pharmacist-driven RZV administration program resulted in increased completion of the 2-dose series. However, the revenue generated did not justify the cost of a pharmacist salary for the allocated time commitment.

Comparison of Pharmacist-Directed Management of Multiplex PCR Blood Culture Results with Conventional Microbiology Methods on Effective and Optimal Therapy within a Community Hospital.

Multiplex PCR combined with a pharmacist-driven reporting protocol was compared to the standard of care within a community hospital to evaluate initial changes after notification of a positive blood culture. The intervention group demonstrated decreased times to changes in antimicrobial therapy (P = 0.0081), increased changes to optimal antimicrobial therapy (P = 0.013), and decreased vancomycin use for coagulase-negative staphylococcus contaminants (P < 0.01) with multiplex PCR implementation and pharmacist intervention.