Rivera, Christina G

Introduction: During the early phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), remdesivir was only approved for hospitalized patients. Our institution developed hospital-based, outpatient infusion centers for selected hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who had clinical improvement to allow for early dismissal. The outcomes of patients who transitioned to complete remdesivir in the outpatient setting were examined. Methods: Retrospective study of all hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 who received at least one dose of remdesivir from 11/6/2020 to 11/5/2021 at one of the Mayo Clinic hospitals. Results: Among 3,029 hospitalized patients who received treatment with remdesivir for COVID-19, the majority (89.5%) completed the recommended the five-day course. Among them, 2,169 (80%) completed treatment during hospitalization, while 542 (20.0%) patients were dismissed to complete remdesivir in outpatient infusion centers. Patients who completed the treatment in the outpatient setting had lower odds of death within 28 days (aOR 0.14, 95% CI 0.06-0.32, p<0.001). However, their rate of subsequent hospital encounters within 30 days was higher (aHR 1.88, 95% CI 1.27-2.79, p=0.002). Among patients treated with remdesivir only in the inpatient setting, the adjusted odds of death within 28 days were significantly higher among those who did not complete the 5-day course of remdesivir (aOR 2.07, 95% CI 1.45-2.95, p<0.001). Conclusions: This study describes the clinical outcomes of a strategy of transitioning remdesivir therapy from inpatient to outpatient among selected patients. Mortality was lower among patients who completed the 5-day course of remdesivir.

Abstract GATA2 mutation can result in profoundly reduced monocytes, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and B cells, and is associated with a predisposition for recurrent and disseminated nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections and myelodysplasias. Herein, we describe a unique case of 3 simultaneous disseminated NTM infections in a patient with GATA2 mutations.

Abstract As outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) becomes more common, it may be difficult to stay current with recent related publications. A group of multidisciplinary OPAT clinicians reviewed and ranked all OPAT publications published in 2021. This article provides a high-level summary of the OPAT manuscripts that were voted the “top 10” publications of 2021.

Abstract Background Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is an emerging area for pharmacist involvement. However, many residency training programs do not offer OPAT rotation opportunities for their residents. Objective To provide a blueprint for residency programs hoping to offer OPAT rotations for postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) or postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) pharmacy residents. Results As a rotation area with copious patient interaction, there are many unique accreditation objectives that can be taught and evaluated in an OPAT rotation. The OPAT rotation format may be longitudinal or block. Activities the resident can complete include predischarge evaluation, patient counseling, medication selection, physical examinations, laboratory monitoring, patient presentations, documentation, projects, and educational presentations. Conclusion OPAT rotations provide many opportunities for residents to satisfy the objectives required in residency training.

Abstract Although there is a lack of data in trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) serum monitoring utility for invasive nocardial infections, therapeutic drug monitoring is widely used to optimize dosing and avoid adverse reactions that may cause treatment interruption. We retrospectively reviewed all adults who received TMP-SMX to treat nocardial brain abscess and had SMX serum level testing from 2010 to 2020. Twenty-two patients received treatment with TMP-SMX for Nocardia species brain abscess and 16 (72.7%) had a reported SMX level, with a median patient age of 65.5 years (interquartile range, IQR 59.5–72.5). Compared to those who did not have a documented SMX serum level, patients with SMX levels had a shorter median course of TMP-SMX treatment (322 days [IQR 188–365] vs. 365 [IQR 224–365]; P = .31) and higher therapeutic induction dose (10 [62.5%] vs. 3 [50%]; P = .92). Similarly, they were more frequently on hemodialysis (3 [13.6%] vs. 1 [4.5%]; P = > .99). The median peak level was 158.5 (IQR 120–218) μg/mL, collected at 2 hours (75%) post-administration in the induction phase (81.3%). Patients with documented SMX levels had fewer reported drug toxicity (5 [31.3%] vs. 4 [66.7%]; P = .1) than those without SMX levels. Among the five patients who reported TMP-SMX-related toxicity, 4 (80%) had an SMX peak level >150 μg/mL. There was no difference in the cure, relapse, and death rates among the two groups. While SMX level was not associated with Nocardia species brain abscess cure rates and mortality, most patients with SMX peak >150 μg/mL experienced drug toxicity.

Abstract Background In 2018, the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at our institution adopted updated daptomycin Enterococcus–susceptible dose-dependent breakpoints. While the introduction of susceptible dose-dependent (SDD) was intended to guide practice toward optimal dosing, the understanding and application of daptomycin SDD breakpoints for enterococci were unknown. Methods This mixed-methods study combined a clinician survey with a retrospective pre–post prescribing analysis. An 8-question survey was distributed to infectious diseases (ID) and internal medicine (IM) clinicians. A retrospective chart review of hospitalized adults with infections due to Enterococcus spp. was conducted before (pre-SDD) and after (post-SDD) adoption of SDD reporting for enterococci. Results Survey response rates were 40 of 98 (41%) for IM and 22 of 34 (65%) for ID clinicians. ID clinicians scored significantly higher than IM clinicians in knowledge of SDD. Chart review of 474 patients (225 pre- vs 249 post-SDD) showed that daptomycin dosage following susceptibility testing was significantly higher post-SDD compared with pre-SDD (8.5 mg/kg vs 6.4 mg/kg; P &lt; .001) with no difference in empiric dosing (6.3 mg/kg vs 6.2 mg/kg; P = .67). Definitive daptomycin use varied between the pre- and post-SDD periods (35.1% vs 16.9%; P &lt; .001). Conclusions The survey revealed that ID clinicians placed more importance on and had more confidence in the SDD category over IM clinicians. SDD reporting was associated with a change in definitive daptomycin dosing. ID specialist involvement is recommended in the care of infections due to enterococci for which daptomycin is reported as SDD given their expertise.

AbstractHuman antimicrobial consumption largely occurs in the ambulatory setting, with inappropriate or unnecessary antimicrobial prescribing well documented in the literature. In 2020, The Joint Commission implemented a regulatory standard requiring the development and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) in those institutions surveyed under the ambulatory accreditation standard. While experience with inpatient antimicrobial stewardship has continued to increase, ambulatory ASPs are programmatically distinct and can present unique challenges with regards to operationalizing regulatory components. Herein, we lay a framework for addressing the task of developing an ambulatory ASP for a large health system by reviewing the regulatory requirements, examining relevant recent publications, and describing our institutional experience.

Purpose of review To date, more than 30 antiretroviral drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of HIV infection. As new drugs with better efficacy and safety profile become available for clinical practice, older drugs are either withdrawn from the market or become no longer actively prescribed. We review hepatotoxicity associated with contemporary antiretroviral drugs, with emphasis on data from the past 3 years. Recent findings Although less robust data exists for side effects of contemporary antiretroviral medications recently approved for the management of HIV (i.e., doravirine, ibalizumab, fostemsavir, cabotegravir), the risks of substantial hepatotoxicity appears to be minimal with these agents. Summary Although newer antiretroviral drugs are better tolerated than their earlier counterparts, they are not completely devoid of adverse drug reactions, including hepatotoxicity. Monitoring patients on antiretroviral therapy for treatment-emergent liver injury should continue to be part of routine clinical care.