TRENDS IN OUTPATIENT ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIPTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN 2020
Following the arrival of COVID-19 in the US, there were significant reductions in prescription fills with commonly prescribed outpatient antibiotics. In April, significant reductions in mean monthly fills of the 4 most commonly prescribed outpatient agents (ie, amoxicillin, azithromycin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, doxycycline) persisted throughout 2020. However, significantly higher-than-anticipated mean monthly ciprofloxacin fills in quarter 3 and quarter 4 reversed a 5-year trend of consistent reductions in outpatient ciprofloxacin use. Further studies of antibiotic consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic are needed, with particular attention to drivers and appropriateness of use, regional differences, and antibiotic resistance.
Full Access:Â JAMA
EFFECT OF A NOVEL MACROPHAGE-REGULATING DRUG ON WOUND HEALING IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS. A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL
This multicenter, evaluator-blinded, phase 3 randomized clinical trial showed that topical application of ON101 exhibited better healing efficacy than absorbent dressing alone in the treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) and showed consistent efficacy among all patients, including those with DFU-related risk factors.
Full Access:Â JAMA
THERAPEUTICS AND COVID-19: LIVING GUIDELINE
WHO updates guidance on monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19, recommending a combination of casirivimab and imdevimab (REGEN-COV; Regeneron) for patient with non-severe COVID-19 at high risk for hospitalization and patients with severe or critical COVID-19 who are seronegative. The new update is the fifth revision WHOÂ has made to its guidelines.
Full Access:Â WHO
RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF ADULT PATIENTS PRESENTING TO THE ACUTE CARE SETTING REQUESTING PRESCRIPTIONS
In this retrospective, electronic chart review of all adult patients requesting a prescription from a two-site ED and/or an UCC., researchers found that the two most commonly requested categories of medications were opioid analgesics 21.2% and benzodiazepine anxiolytics 11.7%Â .
Patients who presented to the ED or UCC sought medications with and without street value in almost equal measure. Researchers conclude that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ response to these requests is inappropriate and signals some fault lines within our local healthcare system.
Full Access:Â Western Journal of Emergency Medicine
