BackgroundTimely switch from intravenous (iv) antibiotics to oral therapy is a key component of antimicrobial stewardship programs in order to improve patient safety, promote early discharge and reduce costs. We have introduced a time-efficient and easily implementable intervention that relies on a computerized trigger tool, which identifies patients who are candidates for an iv to oral antibiotic switch.MethodsThe intervention was introduced on all internal medicine wards in a teaching hospital. Patients were automatically identified by an electronic trigger tool when parenteral antibiotics were used for >48 h and clinical or pharmacological data did not preclude switch therapy. A weekly educational session was introduced to alert the physicians on the intervention wards. The intervention wards were compared with control wards, which included all other hospital wards. An interrupted time-series analysis was performed to compare the pre-intervention period with the post-intervention period using ‘% of i.v. prescriptions >72 h’ and ‘median duration of iv therapy per prescription’ as outcomes. We performed a detailed prospective evaluation on a subset of 244 prescriptions to evaluate the efficacy and appropriateness of the intervention.ResultsThe number of intravenous prescriptions longer than 72 h was reduced by 19% in the intervention group (n = 1519) (p < 0.01) and the median duration of iv antibiotics was reduced with 0.8 days (p = <0.05). Compared to the control group (n = 4366) the intervention was responsible for an additional decrease of 13% (p < 0.05) in prolonged prescriptions.The detailed prospective evaluation of a subgroup of patients showed that adherence to the electronic reminder was 72%.ConclusionsAn electronic trigger tool combined with a weekly educational session was effective in reducing the duration of intravenous antimicrobial therapy.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13756-017-0239-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

unsuitable for the creation of an arterio-venous fistula (AVF) or implantable graft. A tunnelled dialysis catheter (Doublelumen PermCath) was inserted and haemodialysis commenced. Two months later he was admitted with pyrexia, rigors and a marked inflammatory response. He also complained of pain at the left sterno-clavicular joint. Repeated blood cultures, from separate sites, grew Staphylococcus epidermidis. Spiral CT scanning demonstrated evidence of osteomyelitis and clavicular destruction. The catheter was removed and peritoneal dialysis commenced. Antibiotic therapy with vancomycin and rifampicin was continued for a 6 week period with resolution of symptoms and inflammatory markers.Case 2. A 62-year-old Yemeni man presented to our emergency department with ESRF. Owing to symptomatic uraemia a tunnelled catheter was inserted and dialysis commenced. Three months later the patient developed high fevers, with raised inflammatory markers. Repeated blood cultures were negative. Despite replacement of the line and empirical antibiotic therapy he developed a shallow 4 cm ulcer at the catheter exit site. The catheter was removed, and the ulcer biopsied. The culture grew fully sensitive Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Clinical and radiological assessment found no other sites of tuberculosis. After initiating treatment and replacing the catheter, the ulcer healed and the patient improved.

Patients with osteoporosis often have chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD is associated with bone and mineral disturbances, renal osteodystrophy, which like osteoporosis leads to a higher risk of fractures. Bisphosphonates are first-line therapy for osteoporosis; however, these are contra-indicated in patients with a GFR <30 ml/min. In this article, we have reviewed the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in moderate to severe renal failure from data of clinical trials. Results have shown that osteoporosis patients and severe CKD with no signs of renal osteodystrophy, oral bisphosphonates (risedronate) seem to be a safe choice. Renal function and PTH should subsequently be monitored strictly. Denosumab, with regularly monitoring of calcium and adequate vitamin D levels or raloxifene are a possible second choice. In any case, one should be certain that there is no adynamic bone before treatment can be started. If there is any doubt, bone biopsies should be taken.

The PFA-100 device is increasingly used for assessing platelet function. Its use to monitor anti-platelet therapy, like acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), has been described. In most studies single PFA-100 measurements were used. In this study, we evaluate the influence of ASA on duplicate measurements using collagen/epinephrine cartridges. Twelve healthy volunteers received a single dose of 160 mg ASA and 12 other healthy volunteers received 30 mg ASA during 10 days followed by 80 mg ASA during 10 days. PFA-100 measurements were performed in duplicate 1 and 24 h after the final intake of medication. The mean coefficient of variation of duplicate measurements before medication was 8.4% and at least two times higher after the intake of a single dose of 160 mg ASA or 30 mg ASA during 10 days. Per individual, huge differences between duplicate measurements were observed after ASA ingestion. Differences were less pronounced after ingestion of 80 mg ASA during 10 days, because six of 12 volunteers had a maximum PFA-100 value>300 s in both measurements. As a consequence, one should be cautious to use the PFA-100 to monitor ASA therapy in individual patients.

BackgroundAdministration of intermittent high doses of vitamin D3 is increasingly used as a strategy for rapid normalization of low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) blood concentrations in patients with vitamin D deficiency. Here, we describe the pharmacokinetics of an accidental single oral overdose of 2,000,000 IU of vitamin D3 in two elderly nursing home patients and discuss safety issues.Case presentationTwo patients, a Caucasian 90-year old man and a 95-year old woman, were monitored from 1 h up to 3 months after intake for clinical as well as biochemical signs of vitamin D intoxication. Blood vitamin D3 concentrations showed a prompt increase with the highest peak area already hours after the dose, followed by a rapid decrease to undetectable levels after day 14. Peak blood 25(OH)D3 concentrations were observed 8 days after intake (527 and 422 nmol/L, respectively (ref: 50–200 nmol/L)). Remarkably, plasma calcium levels increased only slightly up to 2.68 and 2.73 mmol/L, respectively (ref: 2.20–2.65 mmol/L) between 1 and 14 days after intake, whereas phosphate and creatinine levels remained within the reference range. No adverse clinical symptoms were noted.ConclusionA single massive oral dose of 2,000,000 IU of vitamin D3 does not cause clinically apparent toxicity requiring hospitalization, with only slightly elevated plasma calcium levels in the first 2 weeks. Toxicity in the long term cannot be excluded as annual doses of 500,000 IU of vitamin D3 for several years have shown an increase in the risk of fractures. This means that plasma calcium levels may not be a sensitive measure of vitamin D toxicity in the long term in the case of a single high overdose. To prevent a similar error in the future, the use of multiple-dose bottles need to be replaced by smaller single-unit dose formulations.