Safe handling of chemotherapeutic agents: a report from The Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Accident Prevention↗
Biomedical subjects
R B Jones
Publications and source records attributed to R B Jones.
Decrease in expenditures and selected nosocomial infections following implementation of an antimicrobial-prescribing improvement program.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in antimicrobial use and expenditures and the rates of selected nosocomial infections due to resistant organisms associated with implementation of an antimicrobial-prescribing improvement program. DESIGN: Before-after trial comparing 1992 (pre-program), 1993 (a transition year), and 1994 (after full implementation of the program). SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Academic medical center, all patients and physicians. INTERVENTION: An antimicrobial-prescribing improvement program with prior approval requirement for use of restricted agents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Antimicrobial use and expenditures, rates of selected nosocomial infection marker events. RESULTS: Between 1992 and 1994, there were substantial decreases in antimicrobial use, from 158,107 to 137,364 defined daily doses, and in expenditures from $2,486,902 ($24.01 per patient day) to $1,701,522 ($18.49 per patient day). After adjusting for changes in purchase prices and census days, we estimated savings attributable to the program of $279,573 in 1993 and $389,814 in 1994. In addition, we found significant decreases between 1992 and 1994 in the rates of enterococcal bacteremia (.34 vs .16 events per 1,000 patient days; P = .016), selected gram-negative bacteremia (.26 vs .11; P = .015), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization or infection (.66 vs .20; P < .0001), and Stenotrophomonas colonization or infection (.35 vs .17; P = .019). No significant change occurred in rates of nosocomial candidemia or Clostridium difficile toxin-positive diarrhea. Values for 1993 were intermediate between those of 1992 and 1994. CONCLUSION: Implementation of an antimicrobial-prescribing improvement program was associated with substantial savings in antimicrobial use and expenditures and significant decreases in rates of selected nosocomial infections due to resistant organisms.
Anti-Infective Agents↗
Nonculture tests for genital tract chlamydial infection. What does the package insert mean, and will it mean the same thing tomorrow?
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Bacteriological Techniques↗
Compliance with antibiotic therapy for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Control of bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STD) depends on adequate antibiotic therapy. During a 4-week period, a survey concerning compliance was administered to all patients attending an STD clinic who were being treated with one of the standard antibiotic regimens for presumed gonococcal or chlamydial infections. Of the 497 eligible patients, 406 (81.7%) were surveyed between 24 hours and 72 hours after the end of treatment. Of those being treated with the standard 7-day regimen of tetracycline or erythromycin, 63.4% complied. Compliance was not associated with race, gender, symptoms, or antibiotic regimen. Those who were younger, were sexual contacts of an infected partner, or had gastrointestinal side effects were more likely not to comply with treatment.
Adult↗
Evaluation of field follow-up in a sexually transmitted disease clinic for patients at risk for infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis.
Field follow-up to locate and treat partners of patients with syphilis and gonorrhea is standard procedure in the United States. The present study utilized 12,732 heterosexual index patients with gonococcal infection, chlamydial infection, and related syndromes to evaluate the effectiveness of field follow-up over a 6-year period. Field follow-up located 82% of the 13,845 partners identified by the index patients. Of those partners who were located, 36% had a documented infection with either chlamydia or gonorrhea. An average of only 1.09 partners per index patient was named, however, indicating that all partners may not have been reported. The largest number of infected partners was located for all index patients with gonorrhea and for men with chlamydia. Contact tracing was also effective for women with chlamydia, although less so. Field follow-up, as conducted in this study, is effective in locating the partners who are reported by the index patients.
Adolescent↗
Randomized comparison of cefotaxime and ceftriaxone in patients with uncomplicated gonorrhea.
Cefotaxime is a third-generation cephalosporin with excellent in vitro antimicrobial activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae, including beta-lactamase-producing strains. A single, 1-gm, intramuscular dose has previously been shown to be effective in the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea. A randomized, multicenter study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a lower, 500-mg dose of cefotaxime in comparison with ceftriaxone 250 mg, the standard treatment for uncomplicated gonorrhea. One hundred forty-two patients were enrolled and 115 were evaluable. Bacteriologic eradication rates were 95% in the cefotaxime group and 100% in the ceftriaxone group (P = 0.119). Adverse events that were possibly related to the study drug occurred in 3% and 8% of patients in the cefotaxime and ceftriaxone groups, respectively. Cefotaxime 500 mg appears to be a safe and cost-effective alternative to ceftriaxone 250 mg for the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea.
Adult↗
Women at risk for gonorrhea: comparison of rosaramicin and ampicillin plus probenecid in the eradication of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis and genital mycoplasmas.
Rosaramicin is a macrolide antibiotic with activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and the genital mycoplasmas Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis. Its efficacy in the treatment of genital infections was evaluated and compared with that of single-dose ampicillin plus probenecid in women with known, or suspected, uncomplicated gonococcal infection. Isolation rates for N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis, U. urealyticum, and M. hominis were 72%, 44%, 95%, and 65%, respectively. Rosaramicin cured 24 (89%) of 27 gonococcal infections and 11 (92%) of 12 chlamydial infections. It transiently reduced the carriage of U. urealyticum but had little effect on carriage of M. hominis. Rosaramicin may be of value in the treatment of concurrent gonococcal and chlamydial infections when tetracycline is contraindicated.
Adolescent↗
Phase I trial of pentamethylmelamine: a clinical and pharmacologic study.
Pentamethylmelamine (PMM) is a water-soluble monodemethylated derivative of hexamethylmelamine and has a similar spectrum of activity against murine tumors. Unlike hexamethylmelamine, it is suitable for parenteral administration. We conducted a phase I trial of PMM given as a weekly 1-hour iv infusion to 34 extensively pretreated patients with advanced solid tumors. Eight dose levels ranging from 80 to 1500 mg/m2 were studied. A median of three infusions (mean, 4.2; range, 1-24) were given to each patient. Severe nausea and vomiting was dose-limiting at 1500 mg/m2; it was unresponsive to antiemetics and persisted up to 48 hours. Mild to moderately depressed levels of consciousness were seen in one third of the patients at dose levels of greater than or equal to 750 mg/m2. Consistent dose-related myelosuppression was not observed. Hepatocellular toxicity manifested by elevated serum transaminases occurred sporadically, usually in patients with liver metastases, but could not be unequivocally attributed to the drug. No complete or partial tumor responses were noted. At each dose level, the pharmacokinetics of PMM disappearance from plasma were studied in one to three patients with a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer assay which exclusively measured the unmetabolized drug. The data obtained wee consistent with a two-compartment model of drug distribution, with a mean dose-independent terminal half-life of 143 minutes (range, 43-370). Peak drug levels were directly proportional to dose. The relative lack of myelotoxicity would make PMM an attractive candidate for addition to combination regimens if antitumor activity at tolerable doses could be documented. On this schedule, the recommended dose is 100 mg/m2 for phase II trials.
Adult↗
Efficacy of 250 mg trospectomycin sulfate i.m. vs. 250 mg ceftriaxone i.m. for treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Due to the steadily progressive development of resistance to the drugs used for treatment, Neisseria gonorrhoeae remains a medical concern. Trospectomycin sulfate is a 6' propyl analogue of spectinomycin with potent activity against penicillin sensitive and resistant strains of N. gonorrhoeae. GOAL OF THIS STUDY: To compare the efficacy of 250 mg trospectomycin sulfate i.m. versus 250 mg ceftriaxone i.m. for single dose therapy for men and women with uncomplicated gonorrhea. STUDY DESIGN: Dual-center, randomized comparative trial. RESULTS: Among evaluable male patients with urethral gonorrhea, 36 of 40 (90%, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 76%-97%) who were treated with trospectomycin sulfate were cured, and 22 of 22 patients (100%, [85%-100%]) treated with ceftriaxone were cured. Among evaluable female patients with cervical gonorrhea all were cured following trospectomycin sulfate (23 of 23) and following ceftriaxone therapy (13 of 13). The cure rates for pharyngeal gonorrhea were 67% (8 of 12 patients, 35%-90%) for trospectomycin sulfate therapy, and 100% (2 of 2) with ceftriaxone therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Trospectomycin sulfate, 250 mg i.m., is effective, and well tolerated. However, for treatment of uncomplicated genital and pharyngeal gonorrhea, it is not as reliable for therapy as other recommended regimens.
Ceftriaxone↗
MR and proton spectroscopy of white matter disease induced by high-dose chemotherapy with bone marrow transplant in advanced breast carcinoma.
PURPOSE: To determine whether the MR-detectable white matter changes associated with high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant in patients with advanced breast carcinoma are accompanied by neurochemical disturbances detectable by proton MR spectroscopy. METHODS: MR studies were obtained in 13 patients, and single-voxel proton MR spectra were acquired in vivo in 12 of these 13 for comparison with 13 age- and sex-matched control subjects. RESULTS: Considerable white matter change determined with MR was found in 10 of 13 patients with volume white matter change ranging from 1 to 153 cm3 (mean, 49 cm3; SD, 50 cm3). Single-voxel spectra successfully acquired in 12 patients revealed no significant difference in patients compared with control subjects for the spectral ratios N-acetyl aspartate to creatine or N-acetyl aspartate to choline at either short or long echo times (30 and 136 milliseconds). CONCLUSION: Extensive, late-stage white matter change induced by high-dose chemotherapy is not accompanied by measurable disturbances in the putative neuronal marker N-acetyl aspartate, suggesting that chemotherapy-induced white matter disease is predominantly a water space and possibly an extraneuronal process rather than a primary neuronal (axonal) disease. The MR spectroscopic examination, accomplished at the time of the MR imaging examination, complements the MR imaging study by increasing the specificity of the MR-based clinical evaluation.
Adult↗