TREATING GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIAL INFECTIONS
Allergan reports an updated label approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for AVYCAZ® (ceftazidime and avibactam) in combination with metronidazole for the treatment of complicated intraabdominal infections caused by designated susceptible microorganisms. The label change was made after completion of a Phase 3 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of AVYCAZ in combination with metronidazole. Results of the trial also included data from subsets of patients with infections due to ceftazidime- nonsusceptible pathogens and with pathogens producing certain extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs).
First FDA-approved in February 2015, AVYCAZ is an antibiotic developed to treat certain Gram-negative bacterial infections. It consists of ceftazidime, a third- generation cephalosporin, and avibactam, a non-ß lactam ß-lactamase inhibitor.
Allergan says that AVYCAZ has demonstrated in vitro activity against Enterobacteriaceae in the presence of some beta-lactamases and ESBLs of the following groups: TEM, SHV, CTX-M, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase, AmpC, and certain oxacillinases. AVYCAZ also demonstrated in vitro activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the presence of some AmpC beta-lactamases, and certain strains lacking outer membrane porin.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: www.avycaz.com
ANTI-STICK SOLUTION FOR ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENTS
Electro Lube is a mixture of natural, nonsynthetic, nonflammable, nonallergenic biocompatible phospholipids with no known side effects associated with patient use. It can be used on a variety of monopolar and bipolar instrumentation including: cutting forceps, Kleppingers, bipolar forceps, Bovie pencils, suction coagulators, robots, curved hot scissors, spatula electrodes, and l-hook electrodes.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: www.electrolubesurgical.com
ORAL TREATMENT FOR PPH
A semi-synthetic ergot alkaloid, Methergine is indicated for routine management of uterine atony, hemorrhage, and subinvolution of the uterus following delivery of the placenta, and for control of uterine hemorrhage in the second stage of labor following delivery of the anterior shoulder. Methergine provides specific and rapid (onset of action under 10 minutes) uterotonic action on the smooth muscle of the uterus to increase contractions, resulting in restricting blood loss.
The Methergine dosing schedule is one tablet (0.2 mg) 3 or 4 times daily in the puerperium for a maximum of 1 week. The most common adverse event is hypertension, associated in several cases with seizure and/or headache. Methylergonovine maleate is also available as an intramuscular injection.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: www.methergine.com
FREE MEDICAL BILLING CALCULATOR
ChartLogic, Inc. has launched its Medical Billing Analysis Calculator, a free, online, interactive tool that provides key billing metrics and compares those results to Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) benchmarks for a practice’s specialty. The calculator consists of an input section where practice specialty, annual charges, annual collections, outstanding accounts receivable (A/R), number of annual encounters, and contractual adjustments are entered. The tool, accessible on desktop or mobile devices, then calculates the practice’s billing analysis, including average reimbursement per encounter, net collection percentages, average monthly collections, and A/R data and displays the results beside specialty benchmarks. After submission, the user can alter the inputs or request more information from a ChartLogic billing expert.
ChartLogic’s goal as a medical billing service is to increase a practice’s performance. Services include a full ambulatory EHR suite with electronic medical records, practice management tools, e-prescribing, a patient portal, and more.