The Patient Safety Solutions address the issues of: look-alike, sound-alike medication names; correct patient identification; handover communications; correct procedure at the correct body site; control of concentrated electrolyte solutions; medication accuracy; catheter and tubing misconnections; needle reuse and injection device safety; and hand hygiene.
Long-acting Lantus (insulin glargine, Sanofi-Aventis) will soon be available in a device that will allow diabetes patients to administer up to 80 units in one injection.
Manufacturers Amgen and Wyeth have received approval from the FDA for a 25 mg/0.5 ml single-use prefilled syringe of etanercept (Enbrel).
The FDA has approved the use of estrogen for the treatment of moderate to severe vaginal dryness and pain with intercourse and for symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy associated with menopause.
Latebreakers: First bird flu vaccine approved
Latebreakers: Warnings issued for Avastin
Latebreakers: New therapy for Paget?s disease
Latebreakers: CDC updates gonorrhea treatment guide
Impetigo is a bacterial skin condition common in children and characterized by blisters that may itch. Now there is a new antibacterial ointment approved to treat this condition. Retapamulin (Altabax 1%, GlaxoSmithKline) is the first of a new class of antibacterials known as pleuromutilins. According to the manufacturer, no other antibacterials use the same specific mode of action.
Latebreakers: CCRx tops for customer satisfaction
Latebreakers: CVS completes label improvements
Latebreakers: Walgreens names new chairman, president
Latebreakers: Nonprofit focuses on helping pharmacies
Latebreakers: Many N.Y. pharmacies fail to offer foreign language labels
Latebreakers: Pfizer to pay nearly $20 million in PBM kickback scheme
Latebreakers Study: High workload, technology, alert systems increase med errors
PBMs should pass savings from e-prescribing to R.Ph.s; family pharmacies; pharmacy and the military; price controls; cleanliness in the pharmacy
NACDS members meet their new association leader, Steven Anderson
From coughs and colds to analgesics, pharmacists give their top two OTC brand recommendations in this exclusive Drug Topics survey.
CMS issues final rule for competitive acquisition program for DMEPOS suppliers
Comparative effectiveness research needed to find the best in drugs, devices, biologicals, and procedures to improve healthcare, contain costs
Drug Topics' exclusive OTC Recommendation Survey 2007 finds that R.Ph.s are providing more OTC recommendations and counseling than ever.
The use of intravenous (IV) syringes for non-IV applications such as enteral feedings poses many risks, especially for the pediatric and neonatal population which has a majority of their oral and enteral doses provided through a gastric tube. The Baxa Corporation recently announced the launch of a new educational campaign to make healthcare providers aware of these problems and offer solutions.
While persons with Medicare still are adjusting to 2007 plan changes and modifications to their coverage, Part D sponsors are preparing 2008 bids that are due in June.
CMS officials urge pharmacists to get NPI numbers and health plans to develop contingency plans.
Winn-Dixie named top pharmacy for MTM by Outcomes
Latest urology meeting presents findings on treatments for prostate cancer.
The new 2007 update to the 2004 mucositis management guidelines has been published in the March issue of Cancer. New additions include the use of palifermin to prevent mucositis in high-dose chemotherapy with or without total body irradiation plus stem cell transplantation.
Merck has received FDA approval of combination drug Janumet, containing both sitagliptin and metformin. The new product utilizes three different mechanisms to improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes.