International journal of clinical pharmacy
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The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is quickly spreading across China and globally. Pharmacy services are an important pillar in public health to prevent and contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Chinese pharmacists have acted swiftly in the public health response in China, such as drafting professional service guidance to pharmacists and pharmacies, establishing emergency drug formularies, monitoring and resolving drug shortages, establishing remote pharmacy services to prevent human-to-human infections, providing event-driven pharmaceutical care, educating the public on infection prevention and disease management, and participating in clinical trials and drug evaluation. This commentary reviews the unique needs of pharmacy services in the COVID-19 pandemic, and shares our experiences with the international pharmacy community in the response to these needs.
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Background There is a lack of data on the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in community-dwelling older adults in China. Objective To assess the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication in community dwelling older adults in China and to investigate risk factors associated with the use of such medication. Setting Ambulatory Care Clinic of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University. ⋯ Alprazolam (47.7%) was the most frequently found inappropriate medicine based on the 2019 AGS Beers Criteria compared to clopidogrel (42.2%) based on the Chinese Criteria. The number of medications was a significant risk factor to the use of potentially inappropriate medication in both criteria. Conclusion The prevalence of the use of potentially inappropriate medication in Chinese community-dwelling older adults is high, and explicit criteria are a useful tool to evaluate the prescription of such medication in the elderly.
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Background Non-prescription dispensing of antibiotics is common in Nigeria and this could contribute to the emergence of microbial resistance. Objectives To evaluate knowledge, perception and practices of community pharmacists towards dispensing antibiotics without prescription. Setting Community pharmacies in two cities in Northern Nigeria. ⋯ The malpractice was associated with number of years of community pharmacy experience. Confidence in knowledge of antibiotic therapy was the main reason community pharmacists dispensed antibiotics without prescription. Continuous pharmacy education and training on handling of antibiotics may help to reduce inappropriate practices among community pharmacists.
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In the Chinese coronavirus epicenter, Wuhan, 16 cabin hospitals were built to admit patients with confirmed coronavirus infection (COVID-19). These cabin hospitals serve the role of effectively quarantine and treat mild cases of patients infected with COVID-19. ⋯ Pharmacists also provide assistance to cabin hospitals through remote internet platforms across China. In this commentary, we describe pharmacy services at cabin hospitals to share our experiences with the international pharmacy community.
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Background Inhaled or nasal corticosteroids can cause suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Early detection is important because this suppression can be associated with significant morbidity. Objective To explore the adverse effect of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal suppression by local corticosteroids in HIV-infected patients. ⋯ In this study we did not identify HPA axis suppression in patients taking CYP3A4 inhibitors. This may be related to the fact that 2 of these 4 patients used beclomethasone, a corticosteroid not metabolized by CYP3A4. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02501486.