We are pleased to announce that Erin McCreary, PharmD, has been awarded First Place for Innovation at the UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside 2019/2020 Quality and Safety Fair for her project entitled, “Unchartered Territory: Isavuconazonium Capsules Administered via Enteral Feeding Tube.”
Erin led a multidisciplinary team to implement a new protocol to administer isavuconazonium capsules by enteral feeding tubes, thereby avoiding unnecessary intravenous administration. The prescribing information states that capsules should not be chewed, crushed, dissolved, or opened; however, Erin and colleagues developed a safe and effective method to open the capsules for feeding tube administration. The team performed therapeutic drug monitoring to assure therapeutic concentrations were achieved and demonstrated that drug levels were similar to those achieved by intravenous administration.
After 1 year of intervention, the team avoided a total of 527 unnecessary intravenous doses translating into >$50,000 in hospital cost savings. Moreover, Erin has led a multicenter study to publish these findings so that other stewardship programs may pursue a similar strategy.
Congratulations Erin on this exceptional work. Thank you for your continued commitment to stewardship innovation!