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In this issue: Clopidogrel and proton pump inhibitors; adverse events with tamsulosin after cataract surgery; new guidelines for persistent pain in the elderly; and FDA Actions.
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For patients with chronic insomnia, sleeping pills in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) resulted in improved sleep satisfaction during acute therapy, but long- term treatment was enhanced by stopping the medication and continuing only CBT.
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In patients with proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT), tailoring the duration of oral anticoagulation based on serial ultrasonography reduces the rate of recurrent DVT. Prolongation of chronic anticoagulation may accelerate vein recanalization. Residual DVT on ultrasonography is a marker of hypercoagulability.
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Iloperidone is the newest atypical antipsychotic agent to be approved by the FDA. It is chemically similar to risperidone and ziprasidone. Vanda Pharmaceuticals will market iloperidone as Fanapt™.
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In elderly patients hospitalized with heart failure and LVSD, beta-blocker use was clinically effective in reducing mortality and rehospitalization, but patients with preserved systolic function had poor outcomes and beta-blockers did not significantly influence the mortality and rehospitalization rate for these patients.
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A variety of highly effective agents for primary insomnia are currently available including benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine receptor agonists, and other classes. Agents that impact the benzodiazepine receptors (i.e., either benzodiazepines or benzodiazepine receptor agonists) are controlled substances and have occasional problematic issues such as misuse, diversion, cognitive clouding, and rebound upon withdrawal.
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Though many infection preventionists are inundated with data reporting requirements and are having difficulty maintaining routine surveillance activities, health care administrators are reluctant to provide them with "data mining" software, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) reports.
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Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) such as those common in staph and enterococci strains are increasingly the cause of infection, prolonged illness and death among a large patient population, The Joint Commission emphasizes in a new report aimed at health care senior leaders.
