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Category: Pharmacology

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Recognizing Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia

From Critical Care Medicine  The authors review the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia, an unexpected consequence of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic era. 


NIH Resource: The COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel’s Interim Statement on Patient Prioritization for Outpatient Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Therapies or Preventive Strategies When There Are Logistical or Supply Constraints

The COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel (the Panel) has recommended several therapeutic agents for the treatment and prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in individuals who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19. These anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics are of greatest benefit for nonhospitalized patients who have risk factors for progression to severe COVID-19. With the increase in cases of COVID-19 and the emergence of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of concern, there may be logistical or supply constraints that make it impossible to offer the available therapy to all eligible patients, making patient triage necessary. 


HHS Resource: COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator

The national map below displays public locations that have received shipments of U.S. Government-procured COVID-19 therapeutics under U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) authority. The locations displayed in the locator have reported stock on hand within the last day.


WHO Resource: WHO recommends two new drugs to treat COVID-19

WHO has recommended two new drugs for COVID-19, providing yet more options for treating the disease. The extent to which these medicines will save lives depends on how widely available and affordable they will be.

The first drug, baricitinib, is strongly recommended for patients with severe or critical COVID-19. WHO has also conditionally recommended the use of a monoclonal antibody drug, sotrovimab, for treating mild or moderate COVID-19 in patients who are at high risk of hospitalization.


FDA Resource: Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers: Emergency Use Authorization for Bebtelovimab

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the emergency use of bebtelovimab for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg): with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, and for whom alternative COVID-19 treatment options approved or authorized by FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate.


Proning in COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Role of Paralytics

From Critical Care Explorations The authors studied impact of paralysis on prone-induced gas exchange improvements and provider attitudes regarding paralytics.


Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Test to Treat

Through this program, people are able to get tested and – if they are positive and treatments are appropriate for them – receive a prescription from a health care provider, and have their prescription filled all at one location. These “One-Stop Test to Treat” sites are available at hundreds of locations nationwide, including pharmacy-based clinics, Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA)-supported federally-qualified health centers (FQHCs), and long-term care facilities. People can continue to be tested and treated by their own health care providers who
can appropriately prescribe these oral antivirals at locations where the medicines are distributed. 


New Paxlovid Dose Pack Author​ized by FDA

On April 14, 2022, the FDA revised the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the COVID-19 oral antiviral therapeutic Paxlovid to authorize an additional dose pack presentation with appropriate dosing for patients with moderate renal impairment within the scope of the EUA. As a result, Paxlovid will soon be available in two package presentations. 


FDA Updates Sotrovimab Emergency Use Authorization

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Nowcast data from April 5, 2022,  estimates that the proportion of COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron BA.2 variant is above 50% in all Health and Human Services (HHS) U.S. regions. Data included in the health care provider fact sheet show the authorized dose of sotrovimab is unlikely to be effective against the BA.2 sub-variant. Due to these data, sotrovimab is not authorized in any U.S. state or territory at this time. 


NIH Resource: Drug-Drug Interactions Between Ritonavir-Boosted Nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid) and Concomitant Medications

Ritonavir, a strong cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 inhibitor and a P-glycoprotein inhibitor, is coadministered with nirmatrelvir to increase the blood concentration of nirmatrelvir, thereby making it effective against SARS-CoV-2. Ritonavir may also increase blood concentrations of certain concomitant medications. Because ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid) is the only highly effective oral antiviral for the treatment of COVID-19, drug interactions that can be safely managed should not preclude the use of this medication.


SCCM Pod-463 CCM: Clazakizumab for COVID-19: Friend or Foe?

Clazakizumab is a monoclonal antibody against human interleukin-6 that may benefit patients hospitalized with severe or critical COVID-19 accompanied by hyperinflammation. Although not yet FDA approved, clinical trials of clazakizumab for treatment of COVID-19 are underway worldwide. Samantha Gambles Farr, MSN, NP-C, CCRN, RNFA, is joined by Bonnie E. Lonze, MD, PhD, to discuss the article, “A Randomized Double-Blinded Placebo Controlled Trial of Clazakizumab for the Treatment of COVID-19 Pneumonia With Hyperinflammation,” published in the September 2022 issue of Critical Care Medicine (Lonze B, et al. Crit Care Med. 2022;50:1348-1359). Dr. Lonze is a faculty transplant surgeon at NYU Langone in New York, New York, USA, focusing primarily on kidney transplants. As vice chair for research of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, she leads the research group on clinical trials and regulatory oversight.


World-Renowned Experts at the 2024 Critical Care Congress

SCCM is thrilled to bring world-renowned thought leaders to the 2024 Critical Care Congress to discuss innovative developments and hot topics in critical care. Read the thought leaders’ own previews of their upcoming sessions!


SCCM Pod-409 SSC COVID-19 Guidelines

Explore the Surviving Sepsis Campaign’s Guidelines on the Management of Critically Ill Adults with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Alhazzani W, et al. Crit Care Med. 2020 Mar 27; Epub ahead of print) with host Kyle B. Enfield, MD, and authors Mitchell M. Levy, MD, MCCM, and Waleed Alhazzani, MD, MSc, FRCPC.


IDSA Resources: Pharmacology

SCCM’s COVID-19 Rapid Resource Center now links to pertinent content from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) COVID-19 Real-Time Learning Network. These resources are categorized as Pharmacology


Methylprednisolone and 60 Days in Hospital Survival in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pneumonia

From Critical Care Explorations. In this study, the authors found that low-dose methylprednisolone was associated with reduced mortality if given greater than 7 days from onset of symptoms, and no additional benefit greater than 14 days; high dose was associated with higher mortality.


What is the recommended Richmond Agitation-Sedation score goal for patients who had “happy hypoxia” and who then decompensate and require intubation?

Questions from social media, blogs and the various discussion forums, including the new SCCM COVID-19 Discussion Group, were answered. This microlearning content was taken from the COVID-19 Critical Care for Non-ICU Clinicians: Expert Panel Series held on July 14, 2021


Managing Secondary Fungal Infections in COVID-19 Patients

This webinar discussed how to manage common secondary fungal infections commonly seen in COVID-19 patients.  Webcast Recorded on Tuesday, July 27, 2021