November 2019

A Multimodal Analgesic Approach Can Improve the Quality of Analgesia and Reduce Adverse Effects.

Drug shortages and rising prices remain a major issue, with drug pricing legislation on a national level going nowhere fast, and a new gene therapy becoming the most expensive drug approved by the FDA. The opioid epidemic continues to hold the attention of health care providers and organizations, and burnout is increasingly recognized as a problem that needs addressing.

There Is Room for Improvement in Treating Malignancies Caused by Infectious Agents, Especially Considering the Cost Differential

Those who handle hazardous drugs on a regular basis should follow steps to minimize exposure.

As Andrew J. Donnelly, PharmD, MBA, FASHP, the director of pharmacy at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System in Chicago and a clinical professor and the associate dean for clinical affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy, reports in our cover feature, this year’s hot topics included medication shortages, rising drug prices, legislation, a new gene therapy, the opioid epidemic, and the proliferation of cannabidiol products.

Antimicrobial resistance continues to pose a significant health threat, necessitating new antibiotics with novel mechanisms to treat these complicated infections. However, between 2010 and 2018, newly approved antibiotics were primarily derived from previously established drug classes. This past summer, the FDA approved 2 new antibiotics.

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), also referred to as skin and skin structure infections, are a relatively common reason for health care visits in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.

PPD affects about 1 in 9 women who have given birth in the United States. The onset of PPD can occur during pregnancy or after delivery, and symptoms include anxiety, irritability, sadness, thoughts of harm to the baby or self-harm, trouble bonding with the baby, and withdrawal from family or friends.

Health System Pharmacists Should Think About the Implications of Acquiring and Dispensing These Compounded Products.