In this episode, I’ll discuss a Monte Carlo analysis I performed to assess the risk of anesthetic awareness when giving rocuronium before ketamine (rocketamine) in rapid sequence intubation. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher Background Recently, Dr. Josh Farkas at pulmcrit.org wrote an excellent post discussing whether in certain scenarios rocuronium should be administered before […]

In this episode I’ll: 1. Discuss an article about antibiotic delays for septic patients. 2. Answer the drug information question “Can protease inhibitors be used in necrotizing fasciitis?” 3. Share a resource for ACPE CE credits. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher Article Delays From First Medical Contact to Antibiotic Administration for Sepsis Lead author: […]

In this episode I’ll: 1. Discuss an article about piperacillin-tazobactam pharmacokinetics in critically ill patients. 2. Answer the drug information question “How quickly must dantrolene be accessible to treat a case of malignant hyperthermia (MH)?” 3. Share a resource about false positive urine drug screens. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher The article for this […]

In this episode, I’ll discuss alternative anticoagulation strategies for continuous renal replacement therapy during the calcium shortage. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher According to the ASHP current drug shortages list, both calcium chloride and calcium gluconate are in short supply due to manufacturing delays. The “local anticoagulation” method of using citrate during continuous renal […]

In this episode I’ll: 1. Discuss an article about antibiotic de-escalation in septic patients. 2. Answer the drug information question “Is linezolid ever bacteriocidal?” 3. Share a resource about financial advice for pharmacists by a pharmacist. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher The article for this episode recently appeared in a weekly literature digest for […]

In this episode, I’ll discuss three different pain assessments to use in ICU patients who are unable to verbally communicate pain. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher The use of pain assessments for patients who are unable to verbally communicate are recommended in the SCCM Pain, Agitation & Delirium Guidelines. There are 3 main pain […]

In this episode I’ll: 1. Discuss an article about antimicrobial stewardship and empiric antibiotic timing. 2. Answer the drug information question “Should a patient on apixaban at home who presents with massive PE receive thrombolytic therapy?” 3. Share a resource for infectious disease pharmacotherapy. Thursday April 6, 2017 members of my Critical Care Pharmacy Academy will […]

In this episode, I’ll discuss the IDSA Healthcare-Associated Ventriculitis and Meningitis Guidelines. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher These guidelines were published in February 2017 Empiric therapy For empiric therapy in healthcare-associated ventriculitis and meningitis, select an agent that has CNS penetration and bacteriocidal activity against MRSA and pseudomonas. This will ensure coverage against the […]

In this episode, I’ll discuss the recent study of vitamin C, hydrocortisone, and thiamine for severe sepsis and septic shock. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher Article Hydrocortisone, Vitamin C and Thiamine for the Treatment of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Retrospective Before-After Study Lead author: Paul E. Marik Published in Chest December 2016 […]

In this episode, I’ll discuss double anaerobic coverage. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher Anaerobic pathogens Anaerobic pathogens are found in the mouth and the lower gastrointestinal tract. Oral anaerobes are the gram positives Peptococcus and Peptostreptococcus. Intestinal anaerobes are Fusobacterium, Prevotella melaninogenica, and more commonly Bacteroides fragilis. Oral anaerobes are easily covered with penicillins […]

In this episode I’ll: 1. Discuss an article about the effectiveness of conivaptan and tolvaptan in neurocritically ill patients. 2. Answer the drug information question “Is concomitant carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine therapy always a therapeutic duplication?” 3. Share a resource that helps justify alternate dosing schedules for meropenem and cefepime. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher […]