Don Branam

Associate Professor, South College School of Pharmacy. Emergency Medicine & Infectious Diseases Pharmacy enthusiast. FASHP

[Paul Sax @PaulSaxMD]

Given where I practice medicine, the recent attention given by HHS to Lyme and tick-related infections is most welcome.

But I worry deeply about the company they keep in their announcement. @LymeScience @awgaffney
Link ⬇️

[Antibiotic Steward Bassam Ghanem 🅱️C🆔🅿️🌟 @ABsteward]

🔥Our article in EJHP is now published🔥🌟s @drgabx @BradSpellberg

“Universal high-dose meropenem for antimicrobial-resistant Gram-negative infections: evidence or overreach?”

We argue that the IDSA AMR guidance recommendation for universal high-dose meropenem (2 g IV q8h as 3h EI) for all infections other than uncomplicated cystitis is largely based on PK/PD extrapolation & expert opinion without supporting clinical outcomes data.
https://t.co/zhFI8w6Bws

[Tony Breu @tony_breu]

1/14
Why can't you use direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with mechanical valves (MVs)?

DOACs have been one of the most important advances in my career. And yet, the presence of a MV is one of the few contraindications.

The reason highlights the unique nature of thrombus formation in those with a MV and provides insights into the evolution of human hemostasis.

[Brad Spellberg @BradSpellberg]

@ZCiochettoMD424 Sigh.

STATIC AND CIDAL IS NOT A THING!

Okay. Okay. Okay. Im doing some deep breathing here. Okay. Im calmer now. Let's begin the tweetorial.

First, forget static/cidal, the regimen you describe is not unreasonable. We'll come back to static and cidal in a minute.

Second...

[Don Branam @Branamycin]

@TheSGEM @ScienceBasedMed @ross_prager @SAEMEBM @dnunan79 @emlitofnote A post from Mark Crislip! It’s my lucky day, I should rush out to buy a lottery ticket now.

[Brett Biebelberg, MD @bbiebelberg]

🦠Do all patients with viral pneumonia need antibiotics?

🫁This led to a fall-out between ATS and IDSA in the latest CAP guidelines

In a new paper in @CIDJournal, we analyzed abx prescribing & outcomes among pts with viral CAP, and found no benefit from conventional abx

🧵⬇️

[Paul Sax @PaulSaxMD]

Rabies is terrifying, as highlighted by 3 cases recently published in @CDCMMWR; none received prevention. A challenge in clinical care is how to address prevention when community risk is VERY low, but the disease is fatal. https://t.co/LljwsxnvbK

[Paul Sax @PaulSaxMD]

Influenza feels familiar, but much about it remains mysterious.
Why do some seasons (like this one) explode early? Why can’t we predict strains better? Why doesn’t everyone exposed get sick?

Five questions, five honest answers https://t.co/IGmfJd6Nye

[Paul Sax @PaulSaxMD]

How did a five-day antibiotic course become a cultural phenomenon?

A brief (ha ha) history of how the Z-Pak took over outpatient antibiotic prescribing.
https://t.co/VKRhgOSh87

[Jonathan Reiner @JReinerMD]

It’s tragically ironic that part of hepatologist @SenBillCassidy legacy will be more hepatitis infections in the US.

[Jimmy L. Pruitt III, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, BCEMP @PharmD_intheED]

My honest take on Tylenol (acetaminophen) in pregnancy, as a triple board-certified Emergency Medicine Pharmacist, I want to cut through the noise. Straight data. No politics. No nonsense. Just the studies—and how to interpret them.

[Chris Bland @blandman19]

NAPLEX® Review Question of the Week: Opportunity Knocks https://t.co/7PEAZF3xYa #accessmedicine #accesspharmacy #meded

[Don Branam @Branamycin]

@Skepticscalpel I’m very sorry to see this. I followed his blog for many years. RIP

[Alberto Enrico Maraolo MD, MSc, FESCMID @AlbertoEMaraolo]

It's out on #AAC (@ASMicrobiology): a concise but incisive letter on the lingering false myth of "bacteriostatic" #antibiotics as inferior to "cidal" ones.

What an honour to be among authors in a group led by @BradSpellberg.

#IDXposts @RitaMurri

https://t.co/LKigq1slwp

[Mark Cuban @mcuban]

Want to know why those other countries have lower brand drugs prices than us ?

They don't have PBMs. We are the ONLY country that uses PBMs.

Insane

[Paul Sax @PaulSaxMD]

The federal HIV guidelines are facing a shutdown.
A trusted, living resource — used by clinicians, programs, and public health agencies for decades — may disappear due to “budget decreases and revised priorities.”
Big mistake.
https://t.co/AXmpdBjXNJ

[Don Branam @Branamycin]

@SolidRock402 @Vol_Softball

[Don Branam @Branamycin]

@CGProgram I was there - worst experience of any game, ever.

[Paul Sax @PaulSaxMD]

TB rule outs, Abx allergies, CMV, MSSA (of course), and more. Studies sent to an awesome ID fellow during 2 weeks of service — organized for subconscious absorption. 🧠 Link-o-Rama: Osmosis Edition https://t.co/3nGLkJ43Vq

[Brad Spellberg @BradSpellberg]

Wow! If anyone ever doubts the power of crowd sourcing, look at the vaccine RCT table that has been built already, in under 24 h! Unbelievable work by @jakescottMD Dr. Abhay Dand, @alejodiaz81 and Dr. Ali Sebastian Meza Vazquez!

https://t.co/8Q3LiK8CJ2