Australian Prescriber

Most occupational exposures to blood or body fluids carry a low risk of transmission of bloodborne viruses; however, it is important to recognise incidents that carry a higher risk of transmission and to know when postexposure prophylaxis is required.

A judicious approach to investigations for suspected inflammatory arthritis that considers the patient’s pretest probability of disease is recommended to reduce the likelihood of false positive results and unnecessary further investigations and treatment.

An interdisciplinary stewardship approach is proposed to address the intractable problem of medication errors and harms following hospital discharge.

This case highlights how a cascade of diagnoses and prescriptions from multiple prescribers can lead to extreme polypharmacy, multiple compounding adverse effects and serious sequelae.

Difelikefalin is approved to treat itch in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing haemodialysis. It is given as an intravenous injection 3 times a week at a dose based on body weight.

Rimegepant is the first oral CGRP antagonist approved in Australia for both prevention and acute treatment of migraine. It appeared to have modest benefit compared with placebo in clinical trials.