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Background: Antibiotic allergy is an important clinical and social-economical issue. Objective: The main objectives of this study were to determine the incidence, causative drugs, and risk groups of antibiotic allergy as a reason for hospitalization. The secondary objective was to evaluate the treatment of antibiotic allergy through the identification of drug related problems (DRPs). Methods: This retrospective hospital-based study was carried out in one of Lviv city hospitals (Ukraine) from January 2015 to December 2017. Patients with antibiotic allergy as a cause for hospitalization were included in this study. Results: In this study the incidence of antibiotic allergy was 2.0% (95%СI 1.6:2.4) of all admissions to the Unit that provides special medical care for adult inpatients with allergy diseases and allergy reactions. The mean age of patients was 48.5 years (SD=17.0; range 18-83 years) with female predominance (78.2%; 95%СI 68.9:85.2). Antibiotic hypersensitivity reactions manifested as urticaria with angioedema (52.5%; 95%СI 42.3:62.5), urticaria (36.6%; 95%СI 27.8:46.8) or angioedema (10.9%; 95%СI 5.6:18.7). Beta-lactams (48.5%; 95%СI 38.5:58.7), fluoroquinolones (13.9%; 95%СI 7.8%:22.2%) and macrolides (7.9%; 95%СI 3.5:15.0) were specified as the main causative drugs. All patients during hospitalization (a mean of 8.2 days; SD=2.2; range 2-13 days) took at least 3 medicines (a mean of 5.4 medicines per patient; SD=1.2; range 3-12 medicines). The total number of identified DRPs was 400, a mean of 4.0 DRPs per patient (SD=1.8). The most frequently identified type of DRPs was inappropriate route of drug administration (25.0%; 95%СI 20.8:29.5). This was followed by duplicate prescriptions (23.5%; 95%СI 19.4:28.0) and insufficient frequency of drug administration (19.0%; 95%СI 15.3:23.2). Potential drug-drug interactions and inappropriate drug prescriptions each accounted for 16.0% (95% СI 12.6:20.0) of all DRPs. Comparing all above items in 2015, 2016 and 2017 showed no statistically significant changes (p˃0.05). Conclusions: Antibiotic allergy is a common reason for admissions. The treatment of antibiotic allergy is associated with numerous DRPs. Our results could be useful for development of strategies for improving the safety and quality of pharmacotherapy.

Objective: This ex post facto matched control study was conducted to evaluate the effect of targeted short-form messages or continuing medical education (CME) on fluoroquinolone prescribing among high prescribers. Methods: A total of 11,774 Medscape healthcare provider (HCP) members prescribing high volumes of fluoroquinolones were randomized into three segments to receive one of three unique targeted short-form messages, each delivered via email, web alerts, and mobile alerts. Some HCPs receiving targeted short-form messages also participated in CME on fluoroquinolone prescribing. A fourth segment of HCPs participated in CME only. Test HCPs were matched to third-party-provider prescriber data to identify control HCPs. We used prescriber data to determine new prescription volume; percentage (%) of HCPs with reduced prescribing; new prescription volume for acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS), uncomplicated urinary tract infection (uUTI), and acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ABECB-COPD). Open rates for emailed targeted short-form messages were also measured. Results: Targeted short-form messages and CME each resulted in significant new prescription volume reduction versus control. Combining targeted short-form messages with CME yielded the greatest percentage of test HCPs with reduced prescribing (80.1%) versus controls (76.2%; p

Background: Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a frequent uropathogen in urinary tract infections (UTI). Widespread resistance to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMX-TMP) and increasing resistance to fluoroquinolones amongst these isolates has been recognized. There are limited data demonstrating risk factors for resistance to both SMX-TMP and fluoroquinolones. Objectives: This study was conducted to assess for the prevalence of community resistance amongst E. coli isolates to SMX-TMP and levofloxacin in ambulatory patients discharged from the emergency department (ED). Methods: Adults presenting for evaluation and discharged from the ED with a diagnosis of an E. coli UTI were retrospectively reviewed. Utilizing demographic and clinical data the prevalence of E. coli resistance and risk factors associated with SMX-TMP- and fluoroquinolone-resistant infection were determined. Results: Among the 222 patients, the mean rates of E. coli susceptibility to levofloxacin and SMX-TMP were 82.4% and 72.5%, respectively. Significant risk factors for resistance to SMX-TMP included prior antibiotic use (p=0.04) and prior diagnosis of UTI (p= 0.01). Significant risk factors for resistance to levofloxacin included: male gender, age, presence of hypertension, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, nursing home resident, previous antibiotic use, previous diagnosis of UTI, existence of renal or genitourinary abnormalities, and prior surgical procedures (p