Karin Nyfort-Hansen

Clinical Pharmacy in a South Indian Teaching Hospital

OBJECTIVE: To describe how clinical pharmacy is helping to improve medication use at a South Indian teaching hospital by addressing medication use problems, which are commonly encountered in India. SUMMARY: Clinical pharmacy is practiced in many countries and makes a significant contribution to improved drug therapy and patient care. India is a country with significant problems with medication use, but until recently Indian pharmacists have not been educated for a patient-care role. Postgraduate pharmacy practice programs have been established at 2 pharmacy colleges in South India as a result of a joint Indo-Australian program of cooperation. At a teaching hospital associated with the colleges, clinical pharmacy services such as drug information, medication counseling, drug therapy review, adverse drug reaction reporting, and the preparation of antibiotic guidelines are assisting clinicians to improve drug therapy and patient care. Seven hundred twenty-seven requests for drug information were received from July 1997 to February 2001, and 543 suspected adverse drug reactions were evaluated from November 1997 to February 2001. The most common drug classes causing adverse drug reactions were antibiotics, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, and antitubercular agents. Physician opinion and service utilization have also been surveyed: 82% of respondents had sought drug information from the Clinical Pharmacy Department and 71% of respondents had sought advice on individual patient management. The success of this program is raising awareness of clinical pharmacy among pharmacy educators elsewhere in India and has led to the introduction of clinical pharmacy services at other Indian hospitals.

Possible Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Associated with Olanzapine

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Prevalence of Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Elderly Hospitalised Patients

The Beers criteria are used to identify potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in the elderly. Few studies have examined the Beers criteria in elderly hospitalised patients in Australia.

Hypothermia Associated with Olanzapine

Hypothermia is a rarely reported and under‐recognised adverse reaction to antipsychotics. Although the mechanism of antipsychotic‐induced hypothermia is not fully understood, antipsychotics that are more potent antagonists at 5‐HT2 than at dopamine2 receptors appear more likely to cause hypothermia.

Renal Effects of High‐Dose Tobramycin and Vancomycin Impregnated Bone Cement

Bone cement impregnated with high doses of aminoglycosides is used to treat infection associated with joint arthroplasty.

Developments in Respiratory Medicine-2002

Four topics are overviewed: benefits of tiotropium bromide maintained during long term use; new treatments for pulmonary hypertension; association between inhaled beta agonists and the risk of acute coronary events; inhaled corticosteroids and bone loss in premenopausal women with asthma. (non-author abstract)