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Background: SARS‐CoV‐2 virus requires host proteases to cleave its spike protein to bind to its ACE2 target through a two‐step furin‐mediated entry mechanism. Aprotinin is a broad‐spectrum protease inhibitor that has been employed as antiviral drug for other human respiratory viruses. Also, it has important anti‐inflammatory properties for inhibiting the innate immunity contact system. Methods: This was a multicentre, double‐blind, randomized trial performed in four Spanish hospitals comparing standard treatment versus standard treatment + aprotinin for patients with COVID‐19 between 20 May 2020 and 20 October 2021. The primary efficacy outcomes were length of hospital stay and ICU admission. The secondary endpoints were each of the primary efficacy outcomes and a composite of oxygen therapy, analytical parameters and death. Safety outcomes included adverse reactions to treatment during a 30‐day follow‐up period. Treatment was given for 11 days or till discharge. Results: With almost identical analytical profiles, significant differences were observed in treatment time, which was 2 days lower in the aprotinin group (p =.002), and length of hospital admission, which was 5 days shorter in the aprotinin group (p =.003). The incidence of discharge was 2.19 times higher (HR: 2.188 [1.182–4.047]) in the aprotinin group than in the placebo group (p =.013). In addition, the aprotinin‐treated group required less oxygen therapy and had no adverse reactions or side effects. Conclusion: Inhaled aprotinin may improve standard treatment and clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19, resulting in a shorter treatment time and hospitalization compared with the placebo group. The administration of aprotinin was safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis is one of the most useful measures to prevent surgical wound infection., Objective: The aim of this project is to evaluate the appropriateness of the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in surgical procedures performed in Spanish hospitals, both globally and according to the type of surgery performed., Method: For this purpose, an observational, retrospective, cross-sectional and multicenter study has been designed to collect all the variables that allow the evaluation of the appropriateness of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis by comparing the prescribed treatment, the recommendations included in the local guidelines and the consensus document of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology and the Spanish Association of Surgeons. Indication, choice of antimicrobial, dose, route and duration of administration, timing, re-dosing and duration of the prophylaxis will be taken into account. The sample will consist of patients who underwent scheduled or emergency surgery, either as inpatients or outpatients, in hospitals in Spain. A sample size of 2,335 patients has been established to estimate, with 95% confidence and 80% power, a percentage of appropriateness that is expected to be around 70%. Differences between variables will be analyzed using Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test, or Fisher's test, as appropriate. The degree of agreement between the antibiotic prophylaxis recommended by the guidelines of the different hospitals and that recommended in the literature will be analyzed by calculating the Cohen's kappa indicator. Binary logistic regression analysis using generalized linear mixed models will be performed to identify possible factors associated with differences in the appropriateness of antibiotic prophylaxis., Discussion: The results of this clinical study will allow us to focus on specific surgical areas with higher rates of inappropriateness, identify key points of action and guide future strategies for antimicrobial stewardship programs in the area of antibiotic prophylaxis., (Copyright © 2023 Sociedad Española de Farmacia Hospitalaria (S.E.F.H). Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)