Journal of managed care pharmacy : JMCP
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Review Comparative Study
Review of prasugrel for the secondary prevention of atherothrombosis.
The role of platelets in atherothrombotic disease is well established, and antiplatelet therapy is now recommended for the shortand long-term management of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), with and without percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The thienopyridine clopidogrel is accepted as a key component of antiplatelet management and is recommended in current treatment guidelines as addon therapy to aspirin in secondary prevention to reduce coronary risk in patients with ACS and/or following PCI. The FDA Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee met on February 3, 2009, and recommended approval of prasugrel, but with guidance to physicians about increased risk in low-weight or elderly patients and avoidance of use (a) around coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or other surgical or invasive procedures and (b) in patients with prior or current stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). ⋯ Available data suggest that prasugrel offers potential as an alternative to clopidogrel with greater efficacy but with increased bleeding risk in patients with ACS who receive PCI. Data are not yet available to define the efficacy and risk-benefit profile of prasugrel in patients not undergoing PCI.
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Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in hospital intensive care units (ICUs) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Effective treatment of VAP can be challenging due to a high prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens as causative organisms. ⋯ Clinicians need to be familiar with local antibiograms as well as regional resistance trends in order to choose appropriate therapy for VAP. Optimized dosing strategies can be effective in increasing the probability of attaining pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic targets predictive of successful clinical outcomes.