Carmil Azran, Hasan Kais, Daniel Porat, Arik Dahan
{"title":"Varying Lamotrigine Concentrations in Patients Following One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass Surgery: A Case Series.","authors":"Carmil Azran, Hasan Kais, Daniel Porat, Arik Dahan","doi":"10.1177/08971900251345898","DOIUrl":"10.1177/08971900251345898","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objectives:</b> Bariatric surgery, the most effective treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes, may alter the absorption and overall bioavailability of orally administered drugs. In this case series, we present three patients undergoing one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) and their treatment with the anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer lamotrigine. <b>Key Findings:</b> Various mechanisms may be involved in the changes in lamotrigine blood levels following OAGB; some may lead to increased drug exposure, while others to its decrease. It was found that low and insufficient (case 1), higher (case 3), or unchanged (case 2) lamotrigine plasma levels are all possible after the surgery. <b>Conclusion:</b> This case series shows the complexity of drug treatment after bariatric surgery. The potentially large variability among patients in the effect of the surgery on the bioavailability of lamotrigine, a highly prescribed, life-saving medication, highlights the special care that must be taken with post-bariatric pharmacotherapy in general, and epilepsy treatment in particular.</p>","PeriodicalId":16818,"journal":{"name":"Journal of pharmacy practice","volume":" ","pages":"225-230"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144142828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Chronic Hepatitis C Treatment Failure With Crushed Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir in a Patient With Total Parenteral Nutrition-dependent Short Bowel Syndrome.","authors":"Noelle E Nelson","doi":"10.1177/08971900251352671","DOIUrl":"10.1177/08971900251352671","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We present the case of a 61-year-old patient infected with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3, F1 fibrosis and history of short bowel syndrome, dependent on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) who was referred to the clinical pharmacist for HCV treatment. Following 12 weeks of treatment with crushed, orally administered sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) the patient was unable to achieve sustained virologic response (SVR12), suggesting that this therapy may be ineffective in patients with short bowel syndrome.</p>","PeriodicalId":16818,"journal":{"name":"Journal of pharmacy practice","volume":" ","pages":"231-234"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144310064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kathleen M Villarama, Jessica Lise, Martha Hugger, Marvella Cephas, Richard Drachtman, Minh-Tu Do, Nadia I Awad
{"title":"Interventions for Improved Time to Antibiotic Administration in Pediatric Patients With Febrile Neutropenia.","authors":"Kathleen M Villarama, Jessica Lise, Martha Hugger, Marvella Cephas, Richard Drachtman, Minh-Tu Do, Nadia I Awad","doi":"10.1177/08971900251364058","DOIUrl":"10.1177/08971900251364058","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> For pediatric patients with suspected neutropenic fever in the emergency department, the gold standard antibiotic administration time is 60 min upon presentation. Unfortunately, this is difficult to achieve given operational delays and the lack of multidisciplinary collaboration. <b>Objective:</b> To implement quality improvement strategies to improve the time to antibiotic administration for pediatric patients with suspected neutropenic fever. <b>Methods:</b> Eligible participants included children with suspected febrile neutropenia. A chart review was conducted to determine if intravenous antibiotics were administered within 60 min from triage. Various process-driven and educational interventions were then implemented. The primary outcome was mean time to antibiotic administration from triage. <b>Results:</b> From January 2023 to September 2023, 72 patients were evaluated for the pre-interventions group. From October 2023 to April 2024, 93 patients were assessed for the post-interventions group. The mean time to antibiotic decreased from 92 to 39 min (95% confidence interval [CI], 31.42 to 64.11; <i>P</i> < .001), and the percentage of patients receiving antibiotics within 60 min increased from 35 to 88% (95% CI 0.57 to 0.72; <i>P</i> < .001). Prior to interventions, the major source of delay was the time between nurse triaging and physician ordering of the antibiotic. After interventions, the mean time from triaging to ordering decreased from 34 to 16 min (95% CI, 4.34-31.88; <i>P</i> = .0103). <b>Conclusion:</b> In pediatric patients with suspected neutropenic fever in the emergency department, a multidisciplinary approach and identification of delays in antibiotic delivery can be instrumental in reducing the time to antibiotics administration.</p>","PeriodicalId":16818,"journal":{"name":"Journal of pharmacy practice","volume":" ","pages":"172-178"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144804366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rachid Douglas-Louis, John Cerenzio, Justin Andrade
{"title":"Evaluating Short Versus Prolonged Course of Antibiotic Therapy in Adult Patients With Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Due to Non-lactose-Fermenting Gram-Negative Bacilli.","authors":"Rachid Douglas-Louis, John Cerenzio, Justin Andrade","doi":"10.1177/08971900261450727","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/08971900261450727","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although the 2016 American Thoracic Society/Infectious Diseases of America (ATS/IDSA) guidelines recommend a 7-day antibiotic course for hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), recent trials have challenged this recommendation, particularly for VAP caused by <i>P. aeruginosa</i>. The objective of this study is to provide insights into the optimal duration of antibiotic therapy for VAP caused by non-lactose-fermenting gram-negative bacilli (NF-GNB). This project is a single-center, retrospective cohort study at a community teaching hospital. Patients were included if they were hospitalized with VAP caused by NF-GNB between September 6, 2015 and December 22, 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: those receiving prolonged duration of antibiotic therapy (greater than or equal to 10 days) and those receiving short duration of antibiotic therapy (less than 10 days). The primary endpoint is 30-day mortality from the first day of pathogen-directed therapy. Secondary endpoints include pneumonia recurrence within 30 days, intensive care unit and overall hospital length of stay. The three most prevalent pathogens were <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>, and <i>Stenotrophomonas maltophilia</i> respectively. Both 30-day mortality and recurrence were comparable between groups (17% vs 21%; <i>P</i> = .50) and (26% vs 18%; <i>P</i> = .22) respectively. Patients in the prolonged duration group had a higher hospital length of stay with 35 days as compared to 25 days in the short duration group; <i>P</i> = .01. Thirty-day mortality and pneumonia recurrence rates were similar comparing short vs prolonged antibiotic duration in VAP caused by NF-GNB. Further prospective studies are needed to address the optimal duration of therapy in this group of patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":16818,"journal":{"name":"Journal of pharmacy practice","volume":" ","pages":"8971900261450727"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147839441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Adileidy Quero, Randall Knoebel, Amir Tahmasebi, Samantha Bastow
{"title":"Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Personalized Pharmacotherapy: Emerging Roles for Pharmacists.","authors":"Adileidy Quero, Randall Knoebel, Amir Tahmasebi, Samantha Bastow","doi":"10.1177/08971900261450457","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/08971900261450457","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The objective of this paper is to explore and propose how pharmacists can leverage precision medicine to achieve optimal pharmacotherapy and how artificial intelligence (AI) can guide and enhance these efforts across acute care, chronic disease management, and rare diseases. A PubMed literature search was performed (2020-2025) using the following search terms: precision medicine, artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytics, prescriptive analytics, and pharmacogenomics. Abstracts from article bibliographies were reviewed; all relevant English-language studies or in-depth clinical and technical reviews were considered. There were several key findings in this narrative literature review. First, the review emphasizes the importance of incorporating pharmacogenomics into a broader multi-omics evaluation to guide safe and effective therapy. Second, it includes the demonstrated versus emerging applications of AI, clarifies how AI complements genetic testing and specifies pharmacist responsibilities in clinical, operational, and ethical domains. Finally, it highlights the value of leveraging AI, specifically predictive analytics, and machine learning to support and refine pharmacotherapy evaluations. In cases where multi-omics testing is not accessible, the utilization of big data is proposed as a viable alternative for clinical decision support. Given the complexities and nuances of tailored pharmacotherapy, leveraging advanced strategies such as pharmacogenomics and AI can provide pharmacists with valuable tools. As such,pharmacists should be empowered to pursue innovative strategies to optimize pharmacotherapy while maintaining ethical standards and promoting equal access.</p>","PeriodicalId":16818,"journal":{"name":"Journal of pharmacy practice","volume":" ","pages":"8971900261450457"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147839424","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Potential Pharmacogenomics (PGx), Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Antiviral to Cephalosporin Crossover Reaction.","authors":"Michael J Schuh, Lydia Halim Girgis","doi":"10.1177/08971900261448143","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/08971900261448143","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Patient is an HLA-B*57:01 positive, 43-year-old male with a history of diabetes type II and admission 10 weeks ago at another institution for pubic symphysis osteomyelitis and associated pseudomonas. Cefepime IV was started and the patient presented with fevers, aches, agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia and rash as a suspected side effect of cefepime after 3 weeks of treatment. Cefepime was replaced with piperacillin-tazobactam and symptoms resolved. Question to be resolved is whether an HLA-B*57:01 positive, abacavir sensitive patient could have an agranulocytosis cross reaction to cefepime.</p>","PeriodicalId":16818,"journal":{"name":"Journal of pharmacy practice","volume":" ","pages":"8971900261448143"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147839379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christian Dacon, Pramodini Kale-Pradhan, Melissa Lipari
{"title":"Assessing the Impact of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 and Glucagon-like Peptide-1/glucose-dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide Receptor Agonist Shortages on Glycemic Control: A Single Center Study.","authors":"Christian Dacon, Pramodini Kale-Pradhan, Melissa Lipari","doi":"10.1177/08971900261449175","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/08971900261449175","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and dual GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor agonists (GLP-1/GIP RAs) effectively manage type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recent medication shortages have impacted patient access to treatment. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of incretin therapy shortages on glycemic control and adverse patient outcomes. This retrospective cohort study evaluated the impact of interruptions in therapy on patients receiving maintenance doses of incretin therapy for at least three months. Patients were excluded if they were not on adequate maintenance doses, had missing hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, discontinued therapy due to side effects or cost, or had a history of chronic glucocorticoid use or organ transplant. The primary outcome was HbA1c levels before and after therapy interruption. Secondary outcomes were the incidence of gastrointestinal issues, hyperglycemia, and hypoglycemia-related hospital/clinic visits. A total of 71 patients were included. The median therapy duration was 9 months. Patients had a baseline HbA1c of 6.9%. Following interruption, 25.4% of patients had glucose-lowering therapy additions to their regimen, 35.2% dosage adjustments, and 39.4% no changes. HbA1c increased significantly to 7.2% at 12 months (<i>P</i> < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in adverse events or clinic/hospital visits (<i>P</i> = 0.571 and <i>P</i> = 1.00). Shortages of incretin therapy significantly increased patients' HbA1c levels up to 12 months post interruption. Long-term shortages or restrictions of these agents are likely to lead to adverse clinical outcomes. Further studies are needed to assess the outcomes of prolonged shortages or restrictions of these therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":16818,"journal":{"name":"Journal of pharmacy practice","volume":" ","pages":"8971900261449175"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147839407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Payer and Manufacturer Agreements for High-Cost Therapy: A Narrative Review.","authors":"Vishwanauth Persaud, Albert Wertheimer","doi":"10.1177/08971900261450720","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/08971900261450720","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Between 2022 and 2025, several ultra-high-cost, one-time therapies were approved in the United States, offering potentially curative options for conditions such as spinal muscular atrophy, hemophilia, and sickle cell disease. Despite their clinical value, upfront costs often exceeding $2-4 million create major challenges for payers, especially Medicaid programs with fixed budgets. Traditional reimbursement models, designed for chronic therapies, may not align with the long-term benefits and financial risks of these treatments. This has led to growing interest in alternative payment models, including outcomes-based agreements, installment payments, and risk-sharing contracts. However, adoption remains inconsistent due to regulatory barriers, administrative complexity, and limited long-term data. A narrative literature review was conducted to evaluate U.S. pricing strategies and manufacturer-payer payment models for ultra-high-cost, one-time therapies. Peer-reviewed and grey literature were identified through searches of PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar, along with policy and regulatory sources. Publications from 2010 to 2025 were included and synthesized to categorize payment models and identify implementation challenges. Manufacturers used diverse pricing approaches rather than a single model. Outcomes-based agreements were more common when clinical endpoints were measurable, while other therapies relied on lump-sum payments with support programs. Adoption varied based on therapy characteristics and payer preferences, with limited standardization across stakeholders. These therapies are financed through a mix of traditional and alternative models, but regulatory and operational barriers continue to limit widespread adoption.</p>","PeriodicalId":16818,"journal":{"name":"Journal of pharmacy practice","volume":" ","pages":"8971900261450720"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147839439","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"New Onset of Acne Associated With Dietary Supplements Post-Metabolic Bariatric Surgery: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.","authors":"Almog Eliyahu Dahan, Arik Dahan, Ilanit Mahler, Carmil Azran","doi":"10.1177/08971900261448131","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/08971900261448131","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Metabolic bariatric surgery is the most effective long-term treatment for patients with obesity and obesity-related comorbidities. However, despite substantial health benefits, these procedures also pose a significant risk of nutrient imbalances. It is well established that postoperative patients are prone to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Conversely, excessive supplementation may result in elevated levels of certain micronutrients, which can also produce adverse effects. Patients may self-treat with different supplements, e.g., for hair loss, and may not be aware of possible duplications with their bariatric vitamins. The objective of this work was to examine the potential risk of dermatologic manifestations associated with the use of inappropriate vitamin formulations and overlapping supplementation in a post-bariatric patient. We present a 45-year-old post-bariatric female patient, who developed new onset-acne. Clinical pharmacist intervention identified inappropriate use of a multivitamin containing provitamin A instead of retinol and a relatively high amount of vitamin B1, along with an additional \"hair-growth\" multivitamin rich in vitamin B6, leading to overlapping supplementation. After initiating an appropriate multivitamin regimen, the dermatologic condition completely resolved with no need for acne medications. An overview of the literature relevant to dietary supplementation-related acne is provided as well. In conclusion, this case highlights the essential need for monitoring and education of bariatric patients regarding appropriate use of vitamins. Through proactive questioning of supplement use, detection of nutrient imbalances, and patient education, clinical pharmacists and other healthcare professionals can prevent and reduce the risk of complications after surgery.</p>","PeriodicalId":16818,"journal":{"name":"Journal of pharmacy practice","volume":" ","pages":"8971900261448131"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147774679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jessica Hudak, Amanda Savage, Delesha Carpenter, Mollie Ashe Scott
{"title":"Pharmacist-Prescribed Hormonal Contraception in North Carolina: An Early Adopter Pilot Study.","authors":"Jessica Hudak, Amanda Savage, Delesha Carpenter, Mollie Ashe Scott","doi":"10.1177/08971900261441524","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/08971900261441524","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In 2021, North Carolina (NC) authorized pharmacists to initiate hormonal contraceptives. The objectives of this pilot study were to: (1) determine where hormonal contraception (HC) services were provided; (2) evaluate patient characteristics; and (3) describe pharmacist interventions. Pharmacists who completed training and prescribed HC between April 2022 and December 2023 were invited to participate. Participants completed an online survey about pharmacy demographics and descriptive statistics were used to summarize characteristics. De-identified patient encounters were uploaded into a secure website and data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. 1309 pharmacists completed HC training. Seventeen pharmacists (1.3%) participated in the study and completed demographic surveys. Four pharmacists (24%) saw 34 patients during the study period and provided intervention data for 21 patients. Seventy percent of pharmacists worked in independent pharmacies, and 47% of pharmacies were in rural communities. Seventy percent of patients had commercial insurance (50%) or NC Medicaid (20%). Fifty-three percent of patients reported that they had a primary care provider (PCP). Pharmacists prescribed a hormonal contraceptive in 95% of patient encounters, most frequently the combined HC pill (70%). One patient was referred to a primary care clinic due to elevated blood pressure. All pharmacists in this early-adopter pilot study of contraception pharmacists practiced in independent pharmacies. Seventy percent of patients who sought care from a pharmacist were insured, approximately half did not have a primary care provider, and pharmacists initiated HC for 95% of patients. The most common HC prescribed was the combined HC pill.</p>","PeriodicalId":16818,"journal":{"name":"Journal of pharmacy practice","volume":" ","pages":"8971900261441524"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147633736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}