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The rapid growth of telehealth services has brought about direct-to-consumer telemedicine platforms, enabling patients to request antibiotics online without a virtual or face-to-face consultation. While telemedicine aims to enhance accessibility, this trend raises significant concerns regarding appropriate antimicrobial use and patient safety. In this viewpoint, we share our first-hand experience with 2 direct-to-consumer platforms, where we intentionally sought inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions for nonspecific symptoms strongly indicative of a viral upper respiratory infection. Despite the lack of clear necessity, requested antibiotic prescriptions were readily transmitted to our local pharmacy following a simple monetary transaction. The effortless acquisition of patient-selected antibiotics online, devoid of personal interactions or consultations, underscores the urgent imperative for intensified antimicrobial stewardship initiatives led by state and national public health organizations in telehealth settings. By augmenting oversight and regulation, we can ensure the responsible and judicious use of antibiotics, safeguard patient well-being, and preserve the efficacy of these vital medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of hospital admissions and antimicrobial use. Clinical practice guidelines recommend switching from intravenous (IV) to oral antibiotics once patients are clinically stable. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adults admitted with CAP and initially treated with IV antibiotics at 642 US hospitals from 2010 through 2015. Switching was defined as discontinuation of IV and initiation of oral antibiotics without interrupting therapy. Patients switched by hospital day 3 were considered early switchers. We compared length of stay (LOS), in-hospital 14-day mortality, late deterioration (intensive care unit [ICU] transfer), and hospital costs between early switchers and others, controlling for hospital characteristics, patient demographics, comorbidities, initial treatments, and predicted mortality. Results Of 378 041 CAP patients, 21 784 (6%) were switched early, most frequently to fluoroquinolones. Patients switched early had fewer days on IV antibiotics, shorter duration of inpatient antibiotic treatment, shorter LOS, and lower hospitalization costs, but no significant excesses in 14-day in-hospital mortality or late ICU admission. Patients at a higher mortality risk were less likely to be switched. However, even in hospitals with relatively high switch rates, <15% of very low–risk patients were switched early. Conclusions Although early switching was not associated with worse outcomes and was associated with shorter LOS and fewer days on antibiotics, it occurred infrequently. Even in hospitals with high switch rates, <15% of very low–risk patients were switched early. Our findings suggest that many more patients could be switched early without compromising outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 immunity has declined with subsequent waves and accrual of viral mutations. In vitro studies raise concern for immune escape by BA.4/BA.5, and a study in Qatar showed moderate protection, but these findings have yet to be reproduced. Methods This retrospective cohort study included individuals tested for coronavirus disease 2019 by polymerase chain reaction during Delta or BA.1/BA.2 and retested during BA.4/BA.5. The preventable fraction (PF) was calculated as ratio of the infection to the hospitalization rate for initially positive patients divided by the ratio for initially negative patients, stratified by age and adjusted for age, sex, comorbid conditions, and vaccination using logistic regression. Results A total of 20 987 patients met inclusion criteria. Prior Delta infection provided no protection against BA.4/BA.5 infection (adjusted PF, 11.9% [95% confidence interval,.8%–21.8%]); P =.04) and minimal protection against hospitalization (10.7% [4.9%–21.7%]; P =.003). In adjusted models, prior BA.1/BA.2 infection provided 45.9% (95% confidence interval, 36.2%–54.1%; P <.001) protection against BA.4/BA.5 reinfection and 18.8% (10.3%–28.3%; (P <.001) protection against hospitalization. Up-to-date vaccination provided modest protection against reinfection with BA.4/BA.5 and hospitalization. Conclusions Prior infection with BA.1/BA.2 and up-to-date vaccination provided modest protection against infection with BA.4/BA.5 and hospitalization, while prior Delta infection provided minimal protection against hospitalization and none against infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Previous infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) provides strong protection against future infection. There is limited evidence on whether such protection extends to the Omicron variant. Methods This retrospective cohort study included 635 341 patients tested for SARS-CoV-2 via polymerase chain reaction from 9 March 2020 to 1 March 2022. Patients were analyzed according to the wave in which they were initially infected. The primary outcome was reinfection during the Omicron period (20 December 2021–1 March 2022). We used a multivariable model to assess the effects of prior infection and vaccination on hospitalization. Results Among the patients tested during the Omicron wave, 30.6% tested positive. Protection of prior infection against reinfection with Omicron ranged from 18.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 13.0–22.7) for patients infected in wave 1 to 69.2% (95% CI, 63.4–74.1) for those infected in the Delta wave. In adjusted models, previous infection reduced hospitalization by 28.5% (95% CI, 19.1–36.7), whereas full vaccination plus a booster reduced it by 59.2% (95% CI, 54.8–63.1). Conclusions Previous infection offered less protection against Omicron than was observed in past waves. Immunity against future waves will likely depend on the degree of similarity between variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Acamprosate, naltrexone and disulfiram are underprescribed for alcohol use disorder (AUD) with marked variability among primary care providers (PCPs). We aimed to identify differences between high and low prescribers of medications for AUD (MAUD) with regard to knowledge, experiences, prioritization and attitudes. Methods We surveyed PCPs from a large healthcare system with at least 20 patients with AUD. Prescribing rates were obtained from the electronic health record (EHR). Survey responses were scored from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). Multiple imputation was used to generate attitude scores for 7 missing subjects. PCPs were divided into groups by the median prescribing rate and attitude. Comparisons were made using Wilcoxon rank-sum and regression. Results Of the 182 eligible PCPs, 68 (37.4%) completed the survey. Most indicated willingness to attend an educational course (57.4%). Compared with low prescribers, high prescribers viewed the effectiveness of medications more favorably (short term 4.0 vs 3.7, P  = 0.02; long term 3.5 vs 3.2, P  = 0.04) and were more likely to view prescribing as part of their job (3.9 vs 3.4, P  = 0.04). PCPs with positive attitudes (72.4%, CI 60.9–83.8%) had a prescribing rate of 5.0% (CI 3.5–6.5%) compared to 1.9% (CI 0.5–3.4%) among those with negative attitudes (P  = 0.028). When stratified by attitude, belief in effectiveness was associated with higher prescribing among PCPs with positive attitudes but not those with negative attitudes. Conclusions PCPs indicated an interest in learning to prescribe MAUD. However, education alone may not be effective unless physicians have positive attitudes towards patients with AUD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been shown to be highly protective against reinfection and symptomatic disease. However, effectiveness against the Delta variant and duration of natural immunity remain unknown. Methods This retrospective cohort study included 325 157 patients tested for SARS-CoV-2 via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from 9 March 2020 to 31 December 2020 (Delta variant analysis) and 152 656 patients tested from 9 March 2020 to 30 August 2020 (long-term effectiveness analysis) with subsequent testing through 9 September 2021. The primary outcome was reinfection, defined as a positive PCR test >90 days after the initial positive test. Results Among 325 157 patients tested before 31 December 2020, 50 327 (15.5%) tested positive. After 1 July 2021 (Delta dominant period), 40 (0.08%) initially positive and 1494 (0.5%) initially negative patients tested positive. Protection of prior infection against reinfection with Delta was 85.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 80.0–89.3). For the long-term effectiveness analysis, among 152 656 patients tested before 30 August 2020, 11 186 (7.3%) tested positive. After at least 90 days, 81 (0.7%) initially positive and 7167 (5.1%) initially negative patients tested positive. Overall protection of previous infection was 85.7% (95% CI, 82.2–88.5) and lasted up to 13 months. Patients aged >65 years had slightly lower protection. Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 infection is highly protective against reinfection with Delta. Immunity from prior infection lasts at least 13 months. Countries facing vaccine shortages should consider delaying vaccinations for previously infected patients to increase access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background E. coli is an under-recognized cause of bacterial community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology, risk factors, and outcomes of community-acquired Escherichia coli pneumonia in comparison with other gram-negative and pneumococcal pneumonias. Methods We conducted a large retrospective cohort study of adult patients admitted with pneumonia to 173 US hospitals included in the Premier Research database from July 2010 to June 2015. Patients were included if they had a principal diagnosis code for pneumonia or a principal diagnosis of respiratory failure or sepsis with a secondary diagnosis of pneumonia and had a positive blood or respiratory culture obtained on hospital day 1. The primary outcome was in-hospital case fatality. Secondary outcomes included intensive care unit admission, invasive mechanical ventilation, and use of vasopressors. Results Of 8680 patients with pneumonia and positive blood or respiratory cultures, 1029 (7.7%) had E. coli CAP. Patients with E. coli pneumonia were older and more likely to have a principal diagnosis of sepsis. Patients with E. coli pneumonia had significantly higher case fatality than patients with pneumococcal pneumonia (adjusted odds ratio, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.23–1.97), but it was not significantly different than other gram-negative pneumonias (adjusted odds ratio, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.85–1.32). Approximately 36% of the isolates were resistant to fluoroquinolones; 9.3% were resistant to ceftriaxone. Conclusions E. coli is an important cause of severe CAP; with mortality that was higher than pneumococcal pneumonia but similar to other gram-negative pneumonias. The rate of fluoroquinolone resistance was high, and empiric fluoroquinolones should be used with caution in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Identifying a window of opportunity when patients are motivated to lose weight might improve the effectiveness of weight loss counseling. The onset of chronic disease could create such a window.Objective: To determine whether identifying prediabetes was associated with subsequent weight loss.Methods: Our retrospective cohort study included adults with obesity and a primary care visit between 2015 and 2017. Data were collected and analysed in 2019/2020. We compared patients who developed prediabetes [haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥5.7 and <6.5] to patients with a normal HbA1c (<5.7). We ran linear regression models to identify the association between identifying prediabetes and percent body mass index (BMI) change at 6 and 12 months. The adjusted model controlled for demographic characteristics at baseline, Charlson comorbidity score, and metformin, antipsychotic, antidepressant and antiobesity medication prescribed in either the first 3 months (for the 6-month outcome) or first 9 months (for 12-month outcome) and clustering within physician.Results: Of 11 290 participants, 43% developed prediabetes. At 6 months, 15% of the prediabetes group lost ≥5% of their BMI compared with 13% of the comparison group. The results were similar at 12 months with 18% of the prediabetes group losing ≥5% of their BMI compared with 17%. The prediabetes group lost a higher percentage of their BMI (β = -0.7% versus -0.3% at 6 months and β = -0.5% versus 0.01% at 12 months).Conclusions: While the percent of BMI change was small, patients with newly identified prediabetes lost more weight than a comparison group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Protection afforded from prior disease among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is unknown. If infection provides substantial long-lasting immunity, it may be appropriate to reconsider vaccination distribution. Methods This retrospective cohort study of 1 health system included 150 325 patients tested for COVID-19 infection via polymerase chain reaction from 12 March 2020 to 30 August 2020. Testing performed up to 24 February 2021 in these patients was included. The main outcome was reinfection, defined as infection ≥90 days after initial testing. Secondary outcomes were symptomatic infection and protection of prior infection against reinfection. Results Of 150 325 patients, 8845 (5.9%) tested positive and 141 480 (94.1%) tested negative before 30 August. A total of 1278 (14.4%) positive patients were retested after 90 days, and 62 had possible reinfection. Of those, 31 (50%) were symptomatic. Of those with initial negative testing, 5449 (3.9%) were subsequently positive and 3191 of those (58.5%) were symptomatic. Protection offered from prior infection was 81.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 76.6–85.8) and against symptomatic infection was 84.5% (95% CI, 77.9–89.1). This protection increased over time. Conclusions Prior infection in patients with COVID-19 was highly protective against reinfection and symptomatic disease. This protection increased over time, suggesting that viral shedding or ongoing immune response may persist beyond 90 days and may not represent true reinfection. As vaccine supply is limited, patients with known history of COVID-19 could delay early vaccination to allow for the most vulnerable to access the vaccine and slow transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background For patients at risk for multidrug-resistant organisms, IDSA/ATS guidelines recommend empiric therapy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas. Following negative cultures, the guidelines recommend antimicrobial de-escalation. We assessed antibiotic de-escalation practices across hospitals and their associations with outcomes in hospitalized patients with pneumonia with negative cultures. Methods We included adults admitted with pneumonia in 2010–2015 to 164 US hospitals if they had negative blood and/or respiratory cultures and received both anti-MRSA and antipseudomonal agents other than quinolones. De-escalation was defined as stopping both empiric drugs on day 4 while continuing another antibiotic. Patients were propensity adjusted for de-escalation and compared on in-hospital 14-day mortality, late deterioration (ICU transfer), length-of-stay (LOS), and costs. We also compared adjusted outcomes across hospital de-escalation rate quartiles. Results Of 14 170 patients, 1924 (13%) had both initial empiric drugs stopped by hospital day 4. Hospital de-escalation rates ranged from 2–35% and hospital de-escalation rate quartile was not significantly associated with outcomes. At hospitals in the top quartile of de-escalation, even among patients at lowest risk for mortality, the de-escalation rates were <50%. In propensity-adjusted analysis, patients with de-escalation had lower odds of subsequent transfer to ICU (adjusted odds ratio,.38; 95% CI,.18–.79), LOS (adjusted ratio of means,.76;.75–.78), and costs (.74;.72–.76). Conclusions A minority of eligible patients with pneumonia had antibiotics de-escalated by hospital day 4 following negative cultures and de-escalation rates varied widely between hospitals. To adhere to recent guidelines will require substantial changes in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Choice of empiric therapy for pneumonia depends on risk for antimicrobial resistance. Models to predict resistance are derived from blood and respiratory culture results. We compared these results to understand if organisms and resistance patterns differed by site. We also compared characteristics and outcomes of patients with positive cultures by site. Methods We studied adult patients discharged from 177 US hospitals from July 2010 through June 2015, with principal diagnoses of pneumonia, or principal diagnoses of respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, respiratory arrest, or sepsis with a secondary diagnosis of pneumonia, and who had blood or respiratory cultures performed. Demographics, treatment, microbiologic results, and outcomes were examined. Results Among 138 561 hospitalizations of patients with pneumonia who had blood or respiratory cultures obtained at admission, 12 888 (9.3%) yielded positive cultures: 6438 respiratory cultures, 5992 blood cultures, and 458 both respiratory and blood cultures. Forty-two percent had isolates resistant to first-line therapy for community-acquired pneumonia. Isolates from respiratory samples were more often resistant than were isolates from blood (54.2% vs 26.6%; P <.001). Patients with both culture sites positive had higher case-fatality, longer lengths of stay, and higher costs than patients who had only blood or respiratory cultures positive. Among respiratory cultures, the most common pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (34%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17%), whereas blood cultures most commonly grew Streptococcus pneumoniae (33%), followed by S. aureus (22%). Conclusions Patients with positive respiratory tract cultures are clinically different from those with positive blood cultures, and resistance patterns differ by source. Models of antibiotic resistance should account for culture source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends pneumococcal urinary antigen testing (UAT) when identifying pneumococcal infection would allow for antibiotic de-escalation. However, the frequencies of UAT and subsequent antibiotic de-escalation are unknown. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients admitted with community-acquired or healthcare-associated pneumonia to 170 US hospitals in the Premier database from 2010 to 2015, to describe variation in UAT use, associations of UAT results with antibiotic de-escalation, and associations of de-escalation with outcomes. Results Among 159 894 eligible admissions, 24 757 (15.5%) included UAT performed (18.4% of intensive care unit [ICU] and 15.3% of non-ICU patients). Among hospitals with ≥100 eligible patients, UAT proportions ranged from 0% to 69%. Compared to patients with negative UAT, 7.2% with positive UAT more often had a positive Streptococcus pneumoniae culture (25.4% vs 1.9%, P <.001) and less often had resistant bacteria (5.2% vs 6.8%, P <.05). Of patients initially treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, most were still receiving broad-spectrum therapy 3 days later, but UAT-positive patients more often had coverage narrowed (38.4% vs 17.0% UAT-negative and 14.6% untested patients, P <.001). Hospital rate of UAT was strongly correlated with de-escalation following a positive test. Only 3 patients de-escalated after a positive UAT result were subsequently admitted to ICU. Conclusions UAT is not ordered routinely in pneumonia, even in ICU. A positive UAT result was associated with less frequent resistant organisms, but usually did not lead to antibiotic de-escalation. Increasing UAT and narrowing therapy after a positive UAT result are opportunities for improved antimicrobial stewardship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents comments on de-escalation of empiric antibiotics following negative cultures in hospitalized patients with pneumonia. Topics include empiric therapy for community-acquired pneumonia should include broad-spectrum coverage only when there are associated risk factors; and patients with risk factors for multidrug-resistant pneumonia received antimicrobial therapy that was guideline concordant.

Background. Fluoroquinolones have equivalent oral and intravenous bioavailability, but hospitalized patients with communityacquired pneumonia (CAP) generally are treated intravenously. Our objectives were to compare outcomes of hospitalized CAP patients initially receiving intravenous vs oral respiratory fluoroquinolones. Methods. This was a retrospective cohort study utilizing data from 340 hospitals involving CAP patients admitted to a non- intensive care unit (ICU) setting from 2007 to 2010, who received intravenous or oral levofloxacin or moxifloxacin. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included clinical deterioration (transfer to ICU, initiation of vasopressors, or invasive mechanical ventilation [IMV] initiated after the second hospital day), antibiotic escalation, length of stay (LOS), and cost. Results. Of 36 405 patients who met inclusion criteria, 34 200 (94%) initially received intravenous treatment and 2205 (6%) received oral treatment. Patients who received oral fluoroquinolones had lower unadjusted mortality (1.4% vs 2.5%; P = .002), and shorter mean LOS (5.0 vs 5.3; P < .001). Multivariable models using stabilized inverse propensity treatment weighting revealed lower rates of antibiotic escalation for oral vs intravenous therapy (odds ratio [OR], 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], .74-.96) but no differences in hospital mortality (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, .58-1.15), LOS (difference in days 0.03; 95% CI, -.09-.15), cost (difference in $-7.7; 95% CI, -197.4-182.0), late ICU admission (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, .80-1.36), late IMV (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, .87-1.56), or late vasopressor use (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, .68-1.30). Conclusions. Among hospitalized patients who received fluoroquinolones for CAP, there was no association between initial route of administration and outcomes. More patients may be treated orally without worsening outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Older adults have the highest influenza-related morbidity and mortality risk, but the influenza vaccine is less effective in the elderly. It is unknown whether influenza vaccination of nonelderly adults confers additional disease protection on the elderly population. Methods. We examined the association between county-wide influenza vaccination coverage among 520 229 younger adults (aged 18-64 years) in the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System Survey and illnesses related to influenza in 3 317 709 elderly Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years, between 2002 and 2010 (13 267 786 person-years). Results were stratified by documented receipt of a seasonal influenza vaccine in each Medicare beneficiary. Results. Increases in county-wide vaccine coverage among younger adults were associated with lower adjusted odds of illnesses related to influenza in the elderly. Compared with elderly residents of counties with ≤15% of younger adults vaccinated, the adjusted odds ratio for a principal diagnosis of influenza among elderly residents was 0.91 (95% confidence interval, .88-.94) for counties with 16%-20% of younger adults vaccinated, 0.87 (.84-.90) for counties with 21%-25% vaccinated, 0.80 (.77-.83) for counties with 26%-30% vaccinated, and 0.79 (.76-.83) for counties with ≥31% vaccinated (P for trend <.001). Stronger associations were observed among vaccinated elderly adults, in peak months of influenza season, in more severe influenza seasons, in influenza seasons with greater antigenic match to influenza vaccine, and for more specific definitions of influenza-related illness. Conclusions. In a large, nationwide sample of Medicare beneficiaries, influenza vaccination among adults aged 18-64 years was inversely associated with illnesses related to influenza in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Guidelines for treatment of healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) recommend empirical therapy with broad-spectrum antimicrobials. Our objective was to examine the association between guideline-based therapy (GBT) and outcomes for patients with HCAP. Patients and methods: We conducted a pharmacoepidemiological cohort study at 346 US hospitals. We included adults hospitalized between July 2007 and June 2010 for HCAP, defined as patients admitted from a nursing home, with end-stage renal disease or immunosuppression, or discharged from a hospital in the previous 90 days. Outcome measures included in-hospital mortality, length of stay and costs. Results: Of 85097 patients at 346 hospitals, 31949 (37.5%) received GBT (one agent against MRSA and at least one against Pseudomonas). Compared with patients who received non-GBT, those who received GBT had a heavier burden of chronic disease and more severe pneumonia. GBT was associated with higher mortality (17.1% versus 7.7%, P< 0.001). Adjustment for demographics, comorbidities, propensity for treatment with GBT and initial severity of disease decreased, but did not eliminate, the association (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.32-1.47). Using an adaptation of an instrumental variable analysis, GBT was not associated with higher mortality (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.75-1.16). Adjusted length of stay and costs were also higher with GBT. Conclusions: Among patients who met HCAP criteria, GBT was not associated with lower adjusted mortality, length of stay or costs in any analyses. Better criteria are needed to identify patients at risk for MDR infections who might benefit from broad-spectrum antimicrobial coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Despite the introduction of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for their use, antiviral medications for influenza remain underutilized. Our objective in this study was to describe beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge regarding antiviral medication and vaccination for influenza among patients in an internal medicine clinic. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of adult patients in an internal medicine clinic from April through June 2006. Results. Two-hundred eighty patients completed the survey. Fifty-five percent received influenza vaccination for the most recent influenza season. Overall antiviral knowledge was poor. Of 8 antiviral knowledge questions, the mean percentage of correct answers was 40%; 1 (!1%) of the patients answered all questions correctly, and 47 (18%) answered all questions incorrectly. Only 37 (13%) of the patients reported calling their physician within 48 h after the onset of influenza-like symptoms. Patients with conditions associated with a high risk of complications from influenza were no more likely than other patients to be more knowledgeable about antiviral medication, nor were they more likely to report calling their physician within 48 h after symptom onset or to report receipt of influenza vaccination for the previous influenza season. Only 90 (37%) of the respondents were willing to pay 1$20 for antiviral medication, although 205 (84%) were willing to pay something. Conclusions. Patients are ill-informed about antiviral medication and its benefits, and medication costs may present a barrier to treatment. Physicians should discuss antiviral medication with patients who are at high risk for complications from influenza before the influenza season, and education programs for physicians and patients should be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. A vaccine to prevent herpes zoster was recently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. We sought to determine the cost-effectiveness of this vaccine for different age groups. Methods. We constructed a cost-effectiveness model, based on the Shingles Prevention Study, to compare varicella zoster vaccination with usual care for healthy adults aged >60 years. Outcomes included cost in 2005 US dollars and quality-adjusted life expectancy. Costs and natural history data were drawn from the published literature; vaccine efficacy was assumed to persist for 10 years. Results. For the base case analysis, compared with usual care, vaccination increased quality-adjusted life expectancy by 0.0007-0.0024 quality-adjusted life years per person, depending on age at vaccination and sex. These increases came almost exclusively as a result of prevention of acute pain associated with herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia. Vaccination also increased costs by $94-$135 per person, compared with no vaccination. The incremental cost-effectiveness ranged from $44,000 per quality-adjusted life year saved for a 70-year-old woman to $191,000 per quality-adjusted life year saved for an 80-year-old man. For the sensitivity analysis, the decision was most sensitive to vaccine cost. At a cost of $46 per dose, vaccination cost <$50,000 per quality-adjusted life year saved for all adults >60 years of age. Other variables related to the vaccine (duration, efficacy, and adverse effects), postherpetic neuralgia (incidence, duration, and utility), herpes zoster (incidence and severity), and the discount rate all affected the cost-effectiveness ratio by >20%. Conclusions. The cost-effectiveness of the varicella zoster vaccine varies substantially with patient age and often exceeds $100,000 per quality-adjusted life year saved. Age should be considered in vaccine recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2004, we conducted a survey of physician knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding influenza diagnosis and treatment at Baystate Medical Center in Massachusetts and Scott & White Hospital and Clinic in Texas. Of the 579 physicians we contacted, 336 completed the survey. Sixty-one percent of the respondents prescribed antivirals, and 62% used rapid testing. Prescribing practices were associated with location, practice size, use of rapid testing, and belief in the efficacy of antivirals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A response from the authors of the article "Association Between Initial Route of Fluoroquinolone Administration and Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for Community-Acquired Pneumonia" in a 2016 issue is presented.

Purpose. The effect of a clinical pharmacist's interventions on the duration of antiretroviral-related errors in hospitalized patients was studied. Methods. Between August 4, 2005, and February 4, 2006, all patients at least 18 years of age who were admitted to a 651-bed tertiary care teaching hospital and prescribed highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) were identified by one clinical pharmacist. If a HAART error was suspected, the pharmacist intervened with the house staff or outpatient physician to discuss and resolve the problem. The pharmacist also retrospectively identified potential HAART errors among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) admitted between January 2 and June 30, 2005. HAART errors included the following: incomplete regimen, incorrect dosage, incorrect schedule, medication—disease interaction, incorrect formulation, incorrect antiretroviral, duplication of therapy, and drug—drug interaction. The duration of each error was measured from the time of the initial incorrect order until a correct order was placed or until the patient was discharged. Results. A total of 199 admissions for patients with an order for HAART were identified during the study periods. A total of 73 HAART errors were confirmed in 41 patients. The most common type of error was incomplete regimen. There was no significant difference in the frequency or type of prescribing when comparing the preintervention and intervention phases. The median length of time until an error was corrected, however, was significantly shorter during the intervention phase (15.5 hours) than the preintervention phase (84 hours) (p < 0.0001). Conclusion. The duration of prescribing errors was decreased when a clinical pharmacist monitoring patients receiving HAART intervened to resolve errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]