Medication errors in neonates admitted in intensive care unit and emergency department.

نویسندگان

  • Suksham Jain
  • Srikanta Basu
  • Veena R Parmar
چکیده

BACKGROUND Medication is the most common health-care intervention, and the errors arising out of its usage are potentially an avoidable cause of iatrogenic injuries. There are reports of medication errors from neonatal emergency setups. AIMS To study the medication errors of ordering, dispensing and administering in neonates admitted for emergency care and to compare the errors occurring in the emergency department (ED) with those occurring in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a teaching hospital in north India. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE To study the medication errors in ordering and dispensing for neonates. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE To compare these errors in 2 different settings--ED and NICU. MATERIALS AND METHODS We did a retrospective chart review of neonatal prescriptions written in the 4 months from January to April 2004 in the neonatal intensive care unit and the pediatric emergency department. The prescriptions were analyzed from the case records bearing an even registration number, obtained from the hospital 'medical records' section. Medication error was defined as 'any preventable event that occurs in the process of ordering, transcribing, dispensing, administering or monitoring a drug irrespective of whether the injury occurred or potential for injury was present! RESULTS A total of 821 prescriptions were analyzed and 81 (9.6%) errors were detected. The error rate was found to be 1.5 (54/38) and 0.7 (27/38) per patient in ED and NICU, respectively, being highly significant in ED. Every tenth prescription had medication error in ordering or dispensing; of this, every sixth prescription in ED and nineteenth prescription in NICU had medication error. Dosing errors were the commonest form of detected errors. None of the errors caused any significant harm to the patient but had the potential to cause severe injury, and majority of these errors were preventable. CONCLUSION Medication errors are common in neonatology; more so, in emergency departments than in the neonatal intensive care units.

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

منابع مشابه

Identification of priorities for medication safety in the neonatal intensive care unit via failure mode and effect analysis

Prevention of medication errors in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) is of paramount importance due to age-specific and physiological conditions of neonates. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of medication prescription and administration via failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), which was carried out at the Research and Medical Teaching Center of Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad, Iran....

متن کامل

Explanation of Residents' Experiences Concerning Medication Errors in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Medication errors are a potentially hazardous accident for the patients and can be used as a measure of patient safety in the healthcare system. Neonates are the most vulnerable population because of their body size. The experiences and views of those involved in the healthcare system can be a significant source of information gathering and planning in preventing medication errors...

متن کامل

Effect of Clustered Nursing Care on Sleep Behaviors of the Preterm Neonates Admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Background: Premature neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) undergo sleep disorder due to various manipulations. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of clustered nursing care on sleep behaviors in premature neonates admitted to NICUs. Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted on 60 neonates sel...

متن کامل

Prevalence of Hearing Loss in Newborns Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Introduction: Hearing is essential for humans to communicate with one another. Early diagnosis of hearing loss and intervention in neonates and infants can reduce developmental problems. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of hearing impairment in newborns admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and analyze the associated risk factors.   Materials and Methods:...

متن کامل

Comparison of the Umbilical Cord Bacterial Colonization in Newborn Infants Rooming in with Mothers and Neonates Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Background Bacterial colonization during and shortly after birth are common in newborn infants. The aim of this study was to determine the umbilical cord bacterial colonization in newborn infants rooming in with mothers and neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Materials and Methods In a cross-sectional study, 180 newborn infants were studied in three groups including: newbo...

متن کامل

ذخیره در منابع من


  با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

عنوان ژورنال:
  • Indian journal of medical sciences

دوره 63 4  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2009