1. Incompatible intravenous drug combinations and respective physician and nurse knowledge: a study in routine paediatric intensive care
- Author
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Martina Patrizia Neininger, Wieland Kiess, Thilo Bertsche, Astrid Bertsche, Patricia Buchholz, Manuaela Siekmeyer, Roberto Frontini, and Werner Siekmeyer
- Subjects
Drug ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Intravenous drug ,business.industry ,Paediatric intensive care ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Short Report ,Drug Incompatibility ,030226 pharmacology & pharmacy ,03 medical and health sciences ,Patient safety ,0302 clinical medicine ,Nursing ,medicine ,Vancomycin ,030212 general & internal medicine ,General Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics ,Medical prescription ,business ,Intensive care medicine ,medicine.drug ,Pantoprazole ,media_common - Abstract
Objectives To identify incompatible intravenous drug combinations in routine paediatric intensive care and evaluate physician and nurse knowledge. Methods In a university paediatric intensive care unit, intravenous drug incompatibilities were analysed using a database and physician and nurse knowledge of incompatibilities was assessed using a questionnaire. Results We analysed 665 prescriptions in 87 patients. Incompatible drug administration was identified in 9 (10%) of the 87 patients with a median of 3 different incompatibilities per patient (Q25/Q75: 1/3). We found 26 incompatible combinations. The most frequently involved drugs were cefotaxime, pantoprazole and vancomycin. A median of 10 of the 15 drug combinations were correctly assessed as compatible or incompatible (Q25/Q75: 8/11). Pantoprazole had a low number (20%) of correct answers. Conclusions One in 10 patients in paediatric intensive care was affected by drug incompatibility, with knowledge deficits seen in a third of assessed combinations. This indicates quality improvement strategies should be urgently implemented by pharmacists.
- Published
- 2017