Evaluating the Impact of a Pharmacist-Led Antiretroviral Stewardship Program on Reducing Drug Interactions in HIV-Infected Patients.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the number of antiretroviral-related clinically significant drug-drug interactions (CSDDIs) occurring in hospitalized patients that were intervened upon before and after Antiretroviral Stewardship Program (ARVSP) expansion and to classify the interventions made to prevent errors.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review of adult patients treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) and who were hospitalized from September 2012 to February 2013. A CSDDI was defined as requiring an alternative therapy, dose adjustment, or schedule modification. Findings were compared to a prior study.


RESULTS
A total of 185 admissions were included and 76 CSDDIs were identified, 19 (25%) occurred after ART approval. The percentages of CSDDIs that occurred after ART approval and were intervened upon before and after ARVSP expansion were 43% and 95%, respectively (P<.001). An additional 80 other interventions were made by the ARVSP.


CONCLUSIONS
An ARVSP is critical in the prevention of CSDDIs and errors to improve safety in HIV-infected patients.
Department of Pharmacotherapy Services, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA Julie.billedo@gmail.com.
Julie Anne S
JA
Billedo
Division of Infectious Diseases, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Leonard B
LB
Berkowitz
Department of Pharmacotherapy Services, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA Department of Pharmacy Practice, Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Agnes
A
Cha
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D010604:Pharmacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019562:Viral Load / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
HIV; antiretroviral; drug interactions; pharmacist; stewardship