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Biomedical subjects

Tracey L Mersfelder

Publications and source records attributed to Tracey L Mersfelder.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Oritavancin--an investigational glycopeptide antibiotic.

Antibiotics save countless lives each year; however, increasing rates of drug-resistant bacteria have limited antibiotic selection. Currently, there are few available options for treating resistant Gram-positive organisms. Oritavancin, a novel glycopeptide antibiotic with bactericidal activity, has been developed and recently completed the first round of Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections. Investigations into oritavancin's efficacy will be explored in catheter-related bacteraemia and nosocomial pneumonia. Oritavancin demonstrates similar activity to vancomycin but possesses extended activity against vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus and Enterococcus. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of oritavancin appear to be favourable and once-daily dosing is likely. The incidence of multi-drug resistant bacteria is increasing and explorations into additional treatment options are essential. Further development of oritavancin is necessary to determine clinical efficacy.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Hyperglycemia and gatifloxacin: a case report and summary of current literature.

BACKGROUND: Gatifloxacin is a widely used fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Several case reports have described hyperglycemia that is related to gatifloxacin use. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to report a new case of gatifloxacin-related hyperglycemia in a nondiabetic patient with acute renal dysfunction. Also summarized are data from existing case reports. CASE SUMMARY: A 71-year-old man with a history of coronary artery disease was admitted for saphenous vein harvest site infection, atrial fibrillation, postoperative Dressler's syndrome, and resolving acute renal failure after coronary artery bypass graft 10 days prior. His history was notable for the absence of diabetes mellitus. Four days after initiating gatifloxacin 400 mg/d for a wound infection and 3 days after an increase in serum creatinine to 2.8 mg/dL, his fasting serum glucose level was elevated to 209 mg/dL on routine laboratory evaluation. Standard dose sliding scale insulin was begun to control the patient's blood glucose, and his gatifloxacin dose was lowered to 200 mg/d due to his diminished renal function. The patient's blood glucose levels normalized rapidly after his course of gatifloxacin was completed. DISCUSSION: Thirteen cases of gatifloxacin-related hyperglycemia have been reported in the medical literature, 10 of which were in nondiabetic patients and at least 9 of which were in patients with creatinine clearance levels <50 mL/min. Although the mechanism for the adverse effect is poorly understood, it appears to be dose dependent and more likely to occur in patients with renal insufficiency. CONCLUSION: In this patient with impaired renal function, gatifloxacin was probably associated with hyperglycemia.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2002

Pathophysiology and first-line treatment of osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To review the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA) and the various treatment modalities, focusing specifically on acetaminophen (APAP), nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors as the primary treatment options. DATA SOURCES: Primary literature and tertiary references were identified by a MEDLINE search (1966-March 2001) and through other secondary sources. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: After evaluating the articles and references identified from the data sources, all the information that was judged relevant by the reviewers was included in the review article. DATA SYNTHESIS: OA is the most common joint disorder worldwide. Current research suggests that factors such as inflammation and changes in subchondral bone may play a larger role in the pathophysiology than previously thought. With this research and the development of COX-2 inhibitors, selecting the medication of choice for OA has become difficult. CONCLUSIONS: More research needs to be done before the pathophysiology of OA can be clearly determined. In the meantime, treatment should be based on clinical data and patient response. Studies have shown that APAP and NSAIDs have comparable efficacy, as do traditional NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors. APAP is associated with fewer toxicities than are the traditional NSAIDs. Due to their mechanism of action, the new COX-2 inhibitors should result in fewer adverse effects compared with traditional NSAIDs, but evidence from clinical trials has not been conclusive. Therefore, APAP should still be considered the drug of choice for OA.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗