Infectious Disease

How can pharmacists assist patients with preventing and treating infectious diseases?

A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine this week suggests that opioids may pose a different, unintended untoward consequence in patients: an increased risk of pneumococcal infection.

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Allergan's supplemental New Drug Application to expand the approved use of their cephalosporin / beta-lactamase inhibitor combo antibiotic, AVYCAZ (ceftazidime and avibactam), to include the treatment of hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP) caused by the following susceptible Gram-negative microorganisms: Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Haemophilus influenzae in patients 18 years of age or older.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is defined as pneumonia acquired outside hospital or health care facilities.

Here is an overview of the key Issues for hospital pharmacists.

Ceftazidime-avibactam, a new antibiotic combination, may be an effective alternative to carbapenem meropenem for the treatment of hospital-acquired pneumonia associated with antimicrobial-resistant Gram-negative pathogens.

Influenza season is in full swing and social media is buzzing about this product.

The Zoster Vaccine Recombinant, Adjuvanted, was approved in October for those 50 and older. Here is the scoop.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) infects approximately 4 million Americans annually. As a result of this infection, there are approximately 445,000 hospitalizations and 22,000 deaths in the United States each year.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune-mediated neuromuscular disease characterized by muscle weakness.

What you need to know.

Researchers explore the impact of pneumococcal vaccines and antibiotic usage on trends in colonization in young, healthy children.

This chart provides a simple way to answer questions that pharmacists will receive this winter.

The illness is prevalent in the eastern United States. Diagnosis can be challenging, and the progression can lead to harmful complications.

The recent outbreak in Disneyland sheds light on common sources of infection and prevention strategies.

This year, the FDA is on pace to approve about 38 new medications. Here is a look at 6 of these.

In October, we celebrate American Pharmacists Month.

The study found patients who were prescribed antibiotics for dental procedures tended to be older and more likely to receive clindamycin, an antibiotic that is associated with C diff infection.

The investigational regimen may be appropriate for a broad range of HIV-positive patients.

The pharma giant will now focus on its PD-1 cancer immunotherapy Keytruda.

Top news of the day from across the health care landscape.

Promotion of healthy lifestyle changes are crucial among HIV-positive patients cured of hepatitis C.

This virus is found in tropical and subtropical areas in South America and Africa.

SB239 seeks to reduce the penalty for knowingly exposing sexual partners to HIV to a misdemeanor.

The candidate vaccine is a nonlive, recombinant subunit vaccine to help prevent herpes zoster and its complications, such as postherpetic neuralgia, in adults 50 and older.