Sometimes it’s the small singular events that eventually lead to major changes. This is what happened when ether (diethyl ether) was used as a general anesthetic during surgery. The first use of ether is somewhat clouded in controversy. Dr. Crawford Long of rural Jefferson, Georgia […]

Clostridium botulinum is a bacterium found in soils. When it encounters an environment that lacks oxygen (anaerobic), such as the human gut, it grows and releases botulinum toxin. The botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) produces its effects by inhibiting the release of acetylcholine at the nerve endings […]

Much has been written lately about antimicrobial medications. While it is true we need these medications for certain species of microbes, not all bacteria are harmful and can even convey health benefits. These products are referred to as functional foods and specifically probiotics, a term […]

The question may be asked: What other places can one find pharmacists? As we have discussed in previous columns there are many places where pharmacists make positive impacts on health care outcomes other than the traditional community pharmacy. Opioid Treatment Programs, also known as methadone […]

My previous column featured the work of pharmacists in acute care (hospital) settings, emphasizing their work behind the scenes in hospitals compared to the visibility of pharmacists in the community pharmacy. In addition to being in community pharmacies and hospitals, one can also find a […]

Pharmacists are the most visible and accessible health professionals. We see them every day in community pharmacies filling prescriptions, counseling patients about prescription and over the counter medications, administering immunizations, conferring with providers, and working with insurance companies on the patient’s behalf. They are very […]

Vaccines have been in the news lately with the COVID-19 situation, therefore I thought a column about this topic would be timely, especially since we have known for a long time about the immunity conferred by exposing a person to the disease that we are […]

Did you know that you can participate in healthcare in a meaningful way? You can do this by becoming familiar with the MedWatch Program. MedWatch was founded in 1993 to collect data regarding healthcare adverse events. This is a program run by the U.S. Food […]

Lisinopril is ranked as one of the most widely prescribed drugs in the United States. It is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi). The first ACEi was a drug called captopril (Capoten, Squibb). It was derived from the venom of the Brazilian pit viper called Jararaca […]

Elizabeth Lee Hazen and Rachel Fuller Brown were researchers for the New York State Department of Health-Division of Laboratories and Research. Their discovery was made in 1950. Hazen worked in New York City and Brown in Albany. Hazen would culture organisms from soil samples and […]