Optimized Administration of Voriconazole and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Children and Adolescents: A Single-Centre Retrospective Experience from China

Background Voriconazole (VRC) is a triazole anti-fungal agent and a first-line treatment for invasive fungal infection (IFI) generally. The purpose of our study was performed to explore the factors affecting voriconazole trough concentration (Ctrough) and to show VRC dose adjustment experience in children. Methods The demographic information, concentration data, CYP2C19 genotypes and clinical outcomes of eligible children from January 1th, 2016 to December 31th, 2018 were collected. Factors affecting the voriconazole trough concentration were statistically analyzed. Results A total of 145 trough concentrations in 94 patients were included in this study, 54.5% of which achieved the target concentrations; however, 35.9% and 9.6% of which were sub-therapeutic and super-therapeutic post-multiple dosing. For children ≤ 2, 2–6, 6–12, and 12–18 years, the median VRC maintenance doses of 5.7, 6.7, 5.0 and 3.3 mg/kg twice daily respectively had been required in order to achieve therapeutic level (P < 0.001). Co-administration of proton pump inhibitors affected VRC target trough concentration significantly (P = 0.001). Conclusion Younger pediatric patients might need a higher dosage regime to achieve therapeutic trough concentration. In order to ensure the effectiveness and safety of voriconazole in children, early and repeat monitoring of voriconazole is a powerful tool.

Azithromycin in Periodontal Therapy: Beyond the Antibiotics

Periodontitis is a multifactorial disease, in which microorganisms in plaque biofilm play a major role. Scaling and root planing is the primary mode of non-surgical treatment for periodontal disease. Adjunctive use of an antimicrobial is advocated in certain periodontal disease conditions. Azithromycin might be considered a promising adjunctive drug in the treatment for periodontal disease because of its distinguished characteristic of immunomodulation, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic property along with the accumulation in higher concentration into the acute reactant cells and sustained release at the site of infection. This antibiotic is popular for its very simple dosage regime and limited side effects. The objective of this literature review to highlight the mechanism and potential favourable role in the management of various form of the periodontal disease.

Nov način odmerjanja sugamadeksa za odpravo z vekuronijem povzročene nevromišične blokade

Background and Goal of Study: Sugammadex is a selective binding agent that bindsaminosteroid muscle relaxants. Each molecule of sugammadex binds one molecule of musclerelaxant. To produce the same depth of the neuromuscular block (NMB) much less molecules ofvecuronium are needed than molecules of rocuronium. In theory less sugammadex would beneeded to neutralise the neuromuscular block if vecuronium was used to produce the neuromuscular block. Our aim was to compare reversal of vecuronium induced muscle relaxation between a new way of dosing sugammadex, which takes into account TOF value at the end of the surgery and the amount of vecuronium given during the surgery with neostigmine atropine combination. We also wanted to know how much this dosage regime can save compared to standard per kg dosage.Materials and Methods: 20 adult patients requiring a general anesthesia for surgery were analysed. The first group of 11 patients (SUG) received sugammadex at the end of the surgery according to the table one for NMB reversal. The second group of 9 patients (NEO) received neostigmine and atropine. Train of four (TOF) value was recorded at the end of the surgery and then continuously until the TOF value reached more than 0.9 and the patient was extubated. The time required for the TOF value reaching 0.9 was compared between the groups. For economical evaluation we compared the amount of sugammadex used in the SUG group to standard sugammadex per kg dosage.Results and Discussion: Mean time to recovery to a TOF ratio of 0.9 with sugammadex was 5.12min versus 12.6 min with neostigmine atropine (P < 0.05). No sign of postoperative residual curarisation was observed in the SUG group. For patients in our study 530 mg of sugammadex were used to neutralise the NMB. If standard per kg sugammadex dosing had been used we would have used 2420 mg for the NMB reversal.Conclusion(s): New dosing for sugammadex was successful in neutralising the NMB regardlessof the TOF value at the end of the surgery. The economic impact of the proposed dosing is significant as an average cost for the vecuronium NMB reversal is reduced from around 80 € to 20 € per patient.