Prescribing errors were commonly identified in a pediatric clinic utilizing electronic medical records. Incomplete prescriptions and dosing errors were the most commonly occurring errors. Recognizing the types of errors has been beneficial for developing educational programs intended to decrease prescribing errors and recommending improvements to the EMR system and its utilization.

Invasive candidiasis accounts for approximately 10% of nosocomial infections in preterm infants, with an incidence of 1% to 4% among neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions and a mortality as high as 20% to 30%. These outcomes warrant improved treatment and prevention strategies for infants at highest risk. The Infectious Diseases Society of America provides guidelines on antifungal medications for the prophylaxis and treatment of candidiasis in NICUs; however, there are still variations in practice on the use of fluconazole for prophylaxis and treatment of invasive candidiasis. This review provides specific information regarding fluconazole activity, pharmacokinetics, and a literature evaluation of dosing strategies and comparisons to other treatments in the neonatal population.

The helminths are multicellular organisms that are among the most common causes of infections worldwide. The highest prevalence of these occurs in warm, developing areas where poverty, climate, and environmental factors contribute to an abundance of vectors and increased exposure. Intestinal worms that infest humans include nematodes (pinworm, whipworm, hookworm), trematodes (flukes), and cestodes (tapeworm). Determining treatment can be challenging due to variability in preferred drug of choice and dose for specific worm infestations, as well as formulation and acquisition concerns. Mebendazole, once a mainstay in the treatment of helminth infections, has been discontinued in the United States without explanation by the sole manufacturer of the product. 1 The remaining treatment options include albendazole, ivermectin, nitazoxanide, praziquantel, and pyrantel pamoate (Table 1). These less commonly used agents may be unfamiliar to providers treating patients with helminth infestations, and consideration should be given to consultation with an infectious diseases expert when treating less common helminths. This review article discusses common human intestinal helminthic infections, treatment options, and pharmacological considerations with a focus on treating these infections in the United States.

Asthma is the most common pediatric illness affecting more than 6 million children in the United States. Children with asthma have more frequent office visits and hospitalizations compared with adults. Despite advances in therapies, asthma still has a significant effect on the health care system. Regardless of the setting, pharmacists are uniquely equipped with an intimate knowledge of medications. With this knowledge, they can provide education to patients at various points throughout the health care system, from hospitalization to office visits to point of pick up at the pharmacy. The goal of this article is to equip the pharmacist with the necessary knowledge to provide education to these patients in a variety of practice settings, including community pharmacies, ambulatory care settings, and during transitions in care.