Duetact (Takeda), a new fixed-dose combination of the thiazolidinedione pioglitazone (Actos) and the sulfonylurea glimepiride (Amaryl, and others), was recently approved by the FDA for treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in patients already taking pioglitazone and/or a sulfonylurea. Avandaryl, a combination of glimepiride and the thiazolidinedione rosiglitazone, was approved in 2006.

In the recent Medical Letter article on the treatment of Clostridium difficile–associated disease (CDAD) we wrote: “Healthcare workers caring for patients with C. difficile infection should follow contact isolation precautions, especially use of gloves and hand washing with soap and water after glove removal. Alcohol-based products such as hand sanitizers will not eradicate C. difficile spores.”1 One reader pointed out that alcoholbased products do eradicate some C. difficile spores and have been invaluable against other pathogens.

In an unpublished study available as an abstract, both alcohol-based hand gels and chlorhexidine washes reduced the number of C. difficile spores on contaminated hands, but chlorhexidine was more effective (8 spores/cm2 remaining vs. 30-44 spores/cm2 with 3 formulations of alcohol-based hand gels).2 A previous study showed that chlorhexidine was not different from soap in removal of spores.3 Alcohol itself should have no effect on spores (purified spores are frequently stored in alcohol), but the mechanical action of washing hands with alcohol-based products may be effective in removing them. The CDC has recommended that healthcare workers caring for patients with known or suspected CDAD use contact precautions and perform hand hygiene with either an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water, except in an outbreak setting, where exclusive use of soap and water should be considered.4

1. Treatment of Clostridium difficile–associated disease (CDAD). Med Lett Drugs Ther 2006; 48:89.

2. J Leischner et al. Effect of alcohol hand gels and chlorhexidine hand wash in removing spores of Clostridium difficile (CD) from hands. Intersci Conf Antimicrob Agent Chemother (ICAAC), Washington, DC 2005, abstract LB-29-2005.

3. K Bettin et al. Effectiveness of liquid soap vs. chlorhexidine gluconate for the removal of Clostridium difficile from bare hands and gloved hands. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1994; 15:697.

4. CDC. Clostridium difficile information for healthcare providers (www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/id_CdiffFAQ_HCP.html; accessed January 22, 2007).

Download U.S. English

Medical Letter consultants have brought to our attention some confusion that has accompanied the release of Adacel, a combination of tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis antigens (Tdap) recently approved for use as a booster in adolescents and adults 11-64 years old (Med Lett Drugs Ther 2006; 48:5). Another Tdap vaccine, Boostrix, is approved for use in adolescents 10-18 years old. Some adults have inadvertently been immunized with Daptacel or Infanrix (DTaP), which are intended for active immunization of infants and children 6 weeks to 6 years old. Such mix-ups were reported by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (www.ismp.org) in the August 24 and December 2006 issues of its newsletter.

The problem with giving these pediatric vaccines to adults is that they contain more diphtheria and pertussis antigens than the adult vaccine, and adults may have untoward reactions to these higher antigen levels. One consultant who inadvertently gave the pediatric vaccine to 80 adults reports that a few developed fever to 102ºF, and several developed severe erythema and swelling at the injection site. In the absence of a comparative trial, whether these reactions were due to the higher antigen load can only be a matter of speculation.

The reasons for the mix-ups, according to the Institute, include the similarities in the brand names and packaging of Adacel and Daptacel in addition to the similar component antigens in the 2 products (the components of Adacel are listed in a different order and are labeled as “reduced” diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis). The manufacturer of Adacel and Daptacel intends to make changes in the packaging and labeling to clarify the differences between the products. The inadvertent administration of Infanrix to adults was caused by an electronic order entry program’s failure to differentiate between the adult and pediatric vaccines.

Download U.S. English