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Probiotics can considerably minimize C difficile in hospitals
Medical used of probiotics could be significant in minimizing Clostridium difficile (C difficile) infection among hospitalized patients taking antibiotics.
Medical use of probiotics could be significant in minimizing Clostridium difficile (C difficile) infection among hospitalized patients taking antibiotics, according to a recent study published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Researchers from the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and McMaster University compiled findings from 20 randomized controlled trials including a total of 3,818 patients. The trials tracked rates of probiotic use in inpatients and outpatients who were receiving antibiotics, and analyzed rates of diarrheal illness associated with C difficile among the groups. Eighteen of the 20 trials studied were of inpatient and outpatient adults, while 2 studies were of children. Results were similar among these groups.
“Some probiotic agents and formulas are safe and effective for the prevention of C difficile-associated diarrhea,” said Bradley Johnston, PhD, assistant professor, Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto; and scientist, Child Health Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute. “Short-term probiotic use in nonimmunocompromised adults resulted in a large reduction in the incidence of C difficile-associated diarrhea.”
Overall, use of probiotics reduced the new cases of C difficile-associated diarrhea among patients taking antibiotics by two-thirds (66%), with no serious adverse events attributable to probiotics. Projected onto current rates of C difficile-associated diarrhea, this would reduce the rate of illness by approximately 3 patients per 100 (or 33 per 1,000) patients.
“Probiotics are known to hold potential for the prevention of C difficile, yet only low-quality systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines existed in the literature,” Johnston told Formulary.
“Certain probiotic species and dosages are safe and effective to concurrently use with antibiotics, and should be considered for patients at high risk of C difficile-associated diarrhea,” he concluded.
Coalition promotes important acetaminophen dosing reminders
November 18th 2014It may come as a surprise that each year Americans catch approximately 1 billion colds, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 20% get the flu. This cold and flu season, 7 in 10 patients will reach for an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to treat their coughs, stuffy noses, and sniffles. It’s an important time of the year to remind patients to double check their medicine labels so they don’t double up on medicines containing acetaminophen.
Support consumer access to specialty medications through value-based insurance design
June 30th 2014The driving force behind consumer cost-sharing provisions for specialty medications is the acquisition cost and not clinical value. This appears to be true for almost all public and private health plans, says a new report from researchers at the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID Center) and the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC).
Management of antipsychotic medication polypharmacy
June 13th 2013Within our healthcare-driven society, the increase in the identification and diagnosis of mental illnesses has led to a proportional increase in the prescribing of psychotropic medications. The prevalence of mental illnesses and subsequent treatment approaches may employ monotherapy as first-line treatment, but in many cases the use of combination of therapy can occur, leading to polypharmacy.1 Polypharmacy can be defined in several ways but it generally recognized as the use of multiple medications by one patient and the most common definition is the concurrent use of five more medications. The presence of polyharmacy has the potential to contribute to non-compliance, drug-drug interactions, medication errors, adverse events, or poor quality of life.
Medical innovation improves outcomes
June 12th 2013I have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the pancreas, a disease that’s long been considered not just incurable, but almost impossible to treat-a recalcitrant disease that some practitioners feel has given oncology a bad name. I was told my life would be measured in weeks.
