scholarly journals 2694. Incidence of Pneumocytis jiroveci (PJP) Infection with 3-Month Prophylaxis of Aerosolized Pentamidine (AP) in Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT)

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S947-S947
Author(s):  
Sarah Perreault ◽  
Dayna McManus ◽  
Rebecca Pulk ◽  
Jeffrey E Topal ◽  
Francine Foss ◽  
...  

Abstract Background HSCT patients are at an increased risk of developing PJP after transplant due to treatment induced immunosuppression. Given the risk of cytopenias with co-trimoxazole, AP is utilized as an alternative for PJP prophylaxis. A prior study revealed a 0% (0/19 patients) incidence when AP prophylaxis was given for one year post autologous HSCT. Current guidelines recommend a duration of 3 – 6 months for PJP prophylaxis in autologous HSCT. The primary endpoint of this study was to assess the incidence of PJP infection within one year post autologous HSCT in patients who received 3 months of AP. Secondary endpoint was a cost comparison of 3 months compared with 6 months of AP. Methods A single-center, retrospective study of adult autologous HSCT patients at Yale New Haven Hospital between February 2013 and December 2017 was performed. Patients were excluded if: <18 years of age, received < or >3 months of AP, changed to alternative PJP prophylactic agent or received no PJP prophylaxis, received tandem HSCT, deceased prior to one year post-transplant from a non PJP-related infection, HIV positive, or lost to follow-up. Pentamidine was given as a 300 mg inhalation monthly for 3 months starting Day +15 after autologous HSCT. Results A total of 288 patients were analyzed, no PJP infections occurred within one year post HSCT. Additionally, 187 (65%) patients received treatment post HSCT with 135/215 (63%) receiving maintenance immunomodulatory drugs for myeloma and 40/288 (14%) patients developing relapsed disease. 43% of the chemotherapy regimens for relapsed disease included high dose corticosteroids. The cost difference of using 3 months vs. 6 months of AP is $790, reflecting the cost of drug and its administration. Applying our incidence of 0%, potential cost savings of 3 months vs. 6 months of AP would be $330,000 over 5 years or $66,000 per year. Conclusion Three months of AP for PJP prophylaxis in autologous HSCT patients is safe and effective as well as cost-effective compared with a 6 month regimen. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Delaplace ◽  
Morgan Gouriou ◽  
Denis Melot

Abstract This paper presents the investigations performed by TotalEnergies and Saipem on the cost effectiveness potential of internal plastic lining for corrosion protection of offshore production lines. Objective was to better understand for a complete EPCI cost comparison the various parameters that could have a significant impact on the potential savings associated with the use of plastic lining instead of CRAs (Corrosion Resistant Alloys) for very corrosive production fluids such as sour gases. An extensive cost comparison study between CRA lining and plastic lining for offshore production lines was performed considering sensitivity on several parameters: 3 pipe diameters, S-Lay, Reel-Lay and J-Lay installation, sensitivity to external thermal insulation requirements, mechanical and design requirements, to pipe length and fixed costs (technologies and vessels). A dedicated calculation tool for system design and cost assessment was built on purpose for this sensitivity study. Costs were assessed for the various cases, starting from pipe design, then assessing procurement costs, fabrication costs then installation costs with preliminary cycle time assessment. Project management and engineering costs have been considered to obtain comparative EPCI (as installed) cost assessments for the various study cases. Plastic lining appears to be a cost-effective solution installed in J-Lay or S-Lay in addition to reeling (up to 45% of potential cost savings on installed line compared to CRA lining). The main driver for the cost savings is associated to the procurement of the pipes and associated lining, including pipe manufacturing. Some smaller savings can also be obtained from the offshore cycle times in J-Lay and S-Lay as the CRA welding add a significant operation time in comparison with standard CS welds. The fixed additional costs associated to the plastic lining (specific tooling for example) can be quickly amortized after a few kilometers thanks to the material cost savings. Integrating them as a company investment allows to unlock costs savings even for shorter lines. The thermal contribution of the plastic liner is also interesting regarding the overall pipe insulation design. This study completes the works already performed by the industry on the offshore costs of plastic lining as it considers the whole EPCI CAPEX costs from the Contractor and Operator points of view and offshore experience. The study integrates the S-Lay and J-Lay installation methods (while previous studies mainly focused on Reel-Lay) and includes an extensive sensitivity study with various key parameters such as pipe sizes, pipe design requirements, material costs and offshore operation times to get a general overview of potential benefits associated with plastic linings for offshore production lines transporting corrosive fluids such as sour gases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 205435812110639
Author(s):  
Adam Papini ◽  
Braden J. Manns ◽  
Meghan J. Elliott

Background: Intravenous (IV) iron and erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESAs) are standard treatments for anemia in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. These medications are associated with significant costs to hemodialysis programs and patients. Recent trial evidence demonstrated that a high-dose IV iron protocol reduces ESA usage and improves cardiovascular outcomes. The cost of implementing a high-dose iron protocol within the Canadian public healthcare context remains unknown. Objective: Our primary aim was to estimate the costs of a high-dose IV iron protocol in a large Canadian hemodialysis program that currently uses a low-dose and reactive IV iron strategy. Our secondary aim was to estimate the reduction in ESA use required to maintain cost neutrality with a high-dose IV iron protocol. Design: In this modeling study of IV iron and ESA utilization from a regional hemodialysis program, changes in medication utilization were calculated based on observed effects from published trial data. Using data from a quality improvement audit of regional anemia management and medication utilization, we estimated potential cost differences under various modeling conditions. Setting: Four adult hospital-based and 9 community in-center hemodialysis units in the Alberta Kidney Care—South renal program during the observation period of September 1, 2018, to November 30, 2018. Patients: In total, data from 826 patients were included. Measurements: Mean monthly IV iron and ESA doses were obtained from routine audit data captured within an electronic medical record. Costs were determined from provincially negotiated medication prices. Methods: Current IV iron and erythropoietin dosages were aggregated at the hemodialysis unit level. We used the results from the PIVOTAL trial to estimate the expected increase in IV iron dose and reduction in ESA dose with a high-dose IV iron protocol. We assumed the split between various manufactures of IV iron and ESA were maintained in our cost model. Total medication costs were aggregated by hemodialysis unit, and the mean costs in each unit were used to estimate per-patient costs. Sensitivity analyses included models that assumed 100% IV iron sucrose usage, as well as models where community hemodialysis units and hospital-based hemodialysis units were examined separately. Finally, we calculated a break-even point for ESA dose reduction required to maintain cost neutrality. Results: Actual baseline IV iron and ESA dose utilization across 13 adult HD units were 118 mg/patient/month (95% confidence interval [CI]: 102-134 mg) and 20,764 IU/pt./mo. (95% CI: 18,104-23,424 IU), respectively. The mean combined cost of ESA and IV iron was $315/pt./mo. (95% CI: $274-$355). In comparison, using the results of the PIVOTAL trial and assuming a high-dose IV iron scenario, we estimated mean IV iron use of 215 mg/pt./mo. (95% CI: 187-243 mg/pt./mo.) and a reduction in mean ESA use to 15,923 IU/pt./mo. (95% CI: 13,883-17,962 IU/pt./mo.). This resulted in an estimated cost savings of $38/pt./mo. (95% CI: $33–$42/pt./mo.) and a total program savings of $370,000 per year (95% CI: $325,000-$420,000). Sensitivity analyses under various alternate conditions also showed potential cost savings. We estimated that a dose reduction of ESA of 10% would be required for cost neutrality with a high-dose IV iron protocol. Limitations: Our study is limited in its use of data from a single randomized controlled trial (RCT) to estimate cost savings rather than actualized utilization. Our models do not take into consideration anticipated reductions in transfusions and hospitalizations that could be realized from a high-dose IV iron protocol. Conclusions: Based on cost modeling, a high-dose IV iron protocol could be integrated in large Canadian regional hemodialysis program in a cost saving manner. Programs implementing such a protocol should monitor IV iron and EPO use prospectively to determine if the trial protocol as applied in a real-world setting translates into cost savings.


2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 389-392
Author(s):  
Kiranjit Luther ◽  
Guang Mei Fung ◽  
Farah Khorassani

Purpose: Paliperidone and risperidone are atypical antipsychotics that are structurally and therapeutically similar. Risperidone is metabolized by the liver via cytochrome (CYP) 2D6 to an active metabolite, 9-hydroxyrisperidone. The atypical antipsychotic paliperidone is 9-hydroxyrisperidone formulated separately as an extended-release (ER) tablet and is considerably more expensive than risperidone. The purpose of this retrospective drug utilization review is to evaluate the prescribing patterns of paliperidone ER and evaluate potential cost savings by converting paliperidone ER orders to risperidone at an inpatient psychiatric hospital’s formulary. Methods: This retrospective drug utilization review includes 100 patients, older than 18 years old, who were prescribed oral paliperidone ER at an inpatient, psychiatric hospital between January 1, 2017, and June 2, 2017. The data were collected through the electronic medical records. Patients who were prescribed oral paliperidone ER and refused to take paliperidone ER were excluded from the study population. The cost of each patient’s oral paliperidone ER pharmacotherapy was calculated using average wholesale prices. An equivalent total dose of risperidone therapy was calculated using a 2:3 paliperidone ER to risperidone conversion. The cost savings were then analyzed by comparing the total costs of paliperidone ER with risperidone therapy. Results: The results indicate that from January through June 2017, approximately 68% of all paliperidone ER utilization was for its approved indication of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. The other 32% of utilization was either off-label or for approved indications of risperidone. The total paliperidone ER therapy cost for 100 patients was approximately $17 000, while the cost of risperidone therapy would be approximately $400 for the same patients over 6 months. Overall, this would provide an estimated cost savings of over $33 000 per year or about $169 in savings per patient. Conclusion: The study analysis demonstrates that there are opportunities for cost savings through therapeutic interchange of paliperidone ER to risperidone.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 (1) ◽  
pp. 000180-000184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chet Palesko ◽  
Amy Lujan

Abstract Fan-out wafer-level packaging (FOWLP) offers many significant benefits over other packaging technologies. It is one of the smallest packaging options, but unlike fan-in wafer-level packaging, the IO count of FOWLP is not limited to the area of the die. Given these advantages, FOWLP continues to grow in popularity. While the cost of FOWLP is usually reasonable, there are still opportunities for future cost reduction. Many FOWLP suppliers are exploring panel-based manufacturing instead of the current wafer-based approach. Since many more packages can fit on a large panel than on a wafer, the cost per package can be reduced. The surface area of a 370mm × 470mm panel is 1,739 sq.cm. compared to 706 sq.cm. for a 300mm wafer. This means more than twice as many packages can be manufactured on a single panel. However, this does not mean that the cost per package will be cut in half. Many of the costly manufacturing activities do not depend on the surface area of the panel or wafer and they will not be affected by a larger panel. This paper analyzes the current cost of FOWLP activities and highlights which activities will benefit from a move to panels. An analysis of each manufacturing activity is presented comparing the cost impact of panel versus wafer. The total potential cost savings is also presented.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Billu Payal ◽  
Anoop Kumar ◽  
Harsh Saxena

Background: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) are well known respiratory diseases affecting millions of peoples in India. In the market, various branded generics, as well as generic drugs, are available for their treatment and how much cost will be saved by utilizing generic medicine is still unclear among physicians. Thus, the main aim of the current investigation was to perform cost-minimization analysis of generic versus branded generic (high and low expensive) drugs and branded generic (high expensive) versus branded generic (least expensive) used in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine of Era Medical University, Lucknow for the treatment of asthma and COPD. Methodology: The current index of medical stores (CIMS) was referred for the cost of branded drugs whereas the cost of generic drugs was taken from Jan Aushadi scheme of India 2016. The percentage of cost variation particularly to Asthma and COPD regimens on substituting available generic drugs was calculated using standard formula and costs were presented in Indian Rupees (as of 2019). Results: The maximum cost variation was found between the respules budesonide high expensive branded generic versus least expensive branded generic drugs and generic versus high expensive branded generic. In combination, the maximum cost variation was observed in the montelukast and levocetirizine combination. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study inferred that substituting generic antiasthmatics and COPD drugs can bring potential cost savings in patients.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2558
Author(s):  
Malte Roerden ◽  
Stefan Wirths ◽  
Martin Sökler ◽  
Wolfgang A. Bethge ◽  
Wichard Vogel ◽  
...  

Novel predictive factors are needed to identify mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) patients at increased risk for relapse after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HDCT/Auto-HSCT). Although bone marrow and peripheral blood involvement is commonly observed in MCL and lymphoma cell contamination of autologous stem cell grafts might facilitate relapse after Auto-HSCT, prevalence and prognostic significance of residual MCL cells in autologous grafts are unknown. We therefore performed a multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC)-based measurable residual disease (MRD) assessment in autologous stem cell grafts and analyzed its association with clinical outcome in an unselected retrospective cohort of 36 MCL patients. MRD was detectable in four (11%) autologous grafts, with MRD levels ranging from 0.002% to 0.2%. Positive graft-MRD was associated with a significantly shorter progression-free and overall survival when compared to graft-MRD negative patients (median 9 vs. 56 months and 25 vs. 132 months, respectively) and predicted early relapse after Auto-HSCT (median time to relapse 9 vs. 44 months). As a predictor of outcome after HDCT/Auto-HSCT, MFC-based assessment of graft-MRD might improve risk stratification and support clinical decision making for risk-oriented treatment strategies in MCL.


Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 3714-3714
Author(s):  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Huacheng Luo ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Hong-Min Ni ◽  
Mark Sellin ◽  
...  

Background: Among all tissues, bone marrow (BM) is the most sensitive tissue to ionizing radiation (IR)-induced acute tissue damage (ATD) and chronic long-term residual damage (LT-RD). BM failure and a significant reduction in blood cells (pancytopenia) often occurs within days after exposure to IR due to the massive death of proliferative hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). However, due to their quiescent cell cycle status and reduced fidelity of DNA repair feature, many hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) cannot fully eliminate such damage and enter senescence; this results in LT-RD. Abnormal dysplastic hematopoiesis is the most common LT-RD in most victims of IR, followed by an increased risk of leukemia/lymphoma development. Thus IR exposure is an established cause of BM failure and leukemia. A significant increase in the production of inflammatory cytokines is induced by IR which contributes to the pathogenesis of both ATD and LT-RD. Such inflammatory cytokines induce the activation of Ripk3-Mlkl-mediated necroptotic signaling in HSCs. However, the role of Ripk3-Mlkl signaling in IR-induced damage has not studied. Experimental procedures: The self-renewal capacity of HSCs among Ripk3-/-, Mlkl-/- and WT mice were examined and compared by serial transplantation assay. The phenotypes of ATD and LT-RD induced by different dosages of IR were compared among Ripk3-/-, Mlkl-/- and WT mice. The mechanism by which Ripk3 signaling prevents IR-induced leukemia development was studied. Results: Ripk3-Mlkl signaling is not required for hematopoiesis during homeostatic condition. However, during serial transplantation, inactivation of such signaling prevents stress-induced loss of HSCs. Interestingly, Ripk3 signaling also induces an Mlkl-independent ROS-p38-p16-mediated senescence in HSCs. Thus Ripk3-/- HSCs showed better competitive hematopoietic ability compared to Mlkl-/- and WT HSCs during serial transplantation. A sub-lethal dosage of IR (6Gy) induces Ripk3-dependent NF-κB activation and pro-survival gene expression in HSCs, which is necessary for the survival of damaged HSCs. After 6Gy IR, although DNA damage is repaired in most HSCs within 2 days, a proportion of HSCs in WT and Mlkl-/- mice fail to fully repair the damage and undergo p53-p21-dependent senescence. However such cells in Ripk3-/- mice die from apoptosis. Thus the remaining HSCs in Ripk3-/- mice should be functionally normal, while a proportion of the remaining HSCs in Mlkl-/- and WT mice remain damaged but senescent, all as demonstrated by competitive hematopoietic reconstitution assay. Multiple low-doses of IR (1.75Gy once week × 4) induce HSC exhaustion in WT mice but not in Ripk3-/- and Mlkl-/- mice. Interestingly, almost all Ripk3-/- mice develop acute lymphoblastic leukemia within 200 days after such low dose IR, while 45% of WT and 60% of Mlkl-/- mice develop thymomas within 360 days (see Figure). Mechanistically, such low-dose IR stimulates chronic inflammatory cytokine production. Such cytokines induce Ripk3-Mlkl-mediated necroptosis in response to HSC exhaustion observed in WT mice. These cytokines also induce Ripk3-ROS-p38-p16-mediated senescence in response to impaired HSC functioning observed in both WT and Mlkl-/- mice. In Ripk3-/- mice, due to the lack of both necroptotic and senescent signaling, mutant HSCs accumulate and leukemia development is accelerated. Conclusion: Ripk3 signaling plays distinct roles in HSCs in response to different doses of IR. High-dose IR induces Ripk3-dependent NF-κB/survival signaling, which is required for the survival of HSCs which fail to repair the damage. Thus temporal inhibition of Ripk3-NF-κB signaling might help to remove the damaged HSCs thus preventing the occurrence of LT-RD. However multiple low-doses of IR induces Ripk3 activation in HSCs which represses leukemia development by inducing both ROS-p38-p16-mediated senescence and Ripk3-Mlkl-mediated necroptosis. Induced activation of Mlkl-necroptosis might help to repress leukemia development by removing damaged HSCs. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-55
Author(s):  
Savannah Lindsey ◽  
Laura Beth Parsons ◽  
Lindsay Rosenbeck Figg ◽  
Jill Rhodes

Introduction Monoclonal antibodies possess unique pharmacokinetic properties that permit flexible dosing. Increased use and high costs of these medications have led to the development of cost-containing strategies. This study aims to quantify the cost savings and clinical impact associated with dose rounding monoclonal antibodies to the nearest vial size. Methods This study was a single-arm, retrospective chart review assessing all monoclonal antibody doses dispensed at an outpatient community infusion center associated with an academic medical center between August 2014 and August 2015. All monoclonal antibody doses were reviewed to determine the cost of drug wasted using two methods. The waste-cost analysis described the amount of drug disposed of due to the use of partial vials. The theoretical dose savings described potential cost avoidance based on rounding the ordered dose to the nearest vial size. The theoretical rounded dose was compared to the actual ordered dose to explore clinical implications. Results A total of 436 doses were included. Of these, 237 were not rounded to the nearest vial size and included in the analysis. The cost of waste associated with these doses was $108,013.64 using actual wholesale price. The potential cost avoidance associated with the theoretical dose calculation was $83,595.53. Rounding these doses to the nearest vial size resulted in a median 6.7% (range, 1.4–20%) deviation from ordered dose. Conclusions Rounding monoclonal antibodies to the nearest vial size could lead to significant cost and waste savings with minimal deviation from the actual ordered dose.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1357633X2094204
Author(s):  
Antonio Lopez-Villegas ◽  
Rafael Jesus Bautista-Mesa ◽  
Miguel Angel Baena-Lopez ◽  
Maria Luisa Alvarez-Moreno ◽  
Jesus E Montoro-Robles ◽  
...  

Introduction Asynchronous teledermatology (TD) has undergone exponential growth in the past decade, allowing better diagnosis. Moreover, it saves both cost and time and reduces the number of visits involving travel and opportunity cost of time spent on visits to the hospital. The present study performed a cost-saving analysis of TD units and assessed whether they offered a cheaper alternative to conventional monitoring (CM) in hospitals from the perspective of public health-care systems (PHS) and patients. Methods This study was a retrospective assessment of 7030 patients. A cost-saving analysis comparing TD units to CM for patients at the Hospital de Poniente was performed over a period of one year. The TD network covered the Hospital de Poniente reference area (Spain) linked to 37 primary care (PC) centres that belonged to the Poniente Health District of Almeria. Results We observed a significant cost saving for TD units compared to participants in the conventional follow-up group. From the perspective of a PHS, there was a cost saving of 31.68% in the TD group (€18.59 TD vs. €27.20 CM) during the follow-up period. The number of CM visits to the hospital reduced by 38.14%. From the patients’ perspective, the costs were lower, and the cost saving was 73.53% (€5.45 TD vs. €20.58 CM). Discussion The cost-saving analysis showed that the TD units appeared to be significantly cheaper compared to CM.


Hand ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 155894471987314
Author(s):  
Mark Henry ◽  
Forrest H. Lundy

Background: Acute, direct inoculation osteomyelitis of the hand has traditionally been managed by intravenous antibiotics. With proven high levels of bone and joint penetration, specific oral antimicrobials may deliver clinical efficacy but at substantially lower cost. Methods: Sixty-nine adult patients with surgically proven acute, direct inoculation osteomyelitis of the hand were evaluated for clinical response on a 6-week postdebridement regimen of susceptibility-matched oral antibiotics. Inclusion required gross purulence and bone loss demonstrated at the initial debridement and radiographic evidence of bone loss. Excluded were 2 patients with extreme medical comorbidities. There were 53 men and 16 women with a mean age of 46 years. Mean follow-up was 16 weeks (±10). The cost model for the outpatient oral antibiotic treatment was intentionally maximized using Walgreen’s undiscounted cash price. The cost model for the traditional intravenous treatment regimen was intentionally minimized using the fully discounted Medicare fee schedule. Results: All patients achieved resolution of osteomyelitis by clinical and radiographic criteria. In addition, 7 patients underwent successful subsequent osteosynthesis procedures at the previously affected site without reactivation. The mean postdebridement direct cost of care per patient in the study cohort was $482.85, the cost of the antibiotic alone. The postdebridement direct cost of care per patient on a regimen of vancomycin 1.5 g every 12 hours via peripherally inserted central catheter line was $21 646.90. Conclusions: Acute, direct inoculation osteomyelitis of the hand can be successfully managed on oral antibiotic agents with substantial direct and indirect cost savings.


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