Background
Intravenous drug administration is associated with potential complications, such as phlebitis. The physiochemical characteristics of the infusate play a very important role in some of ...these problems.
Aim
The aim of this study was to standardize the dilutions of intravenous drugs most commonly used in hospitalized adult patients and to characterize their pH, osmolarity and cytotoxic nature to better guide the selection of the most appropriate vascular access.
Methods
The project was conducted in three phases: (i) standardization of intravenous therapy, which was conducted using a modified double-round Delphi method; (ii) characterization of the dilutions agreed on in the previous phase by means of determining the osmolarity and pH of each of the agreed concentrations, and recording the vesicant nature based on the information in literature; and (iii) algorithm proposal for selecting the most appropriate vascular access, taking into account the information gathered in the previous phases.
Results
In total, 112 drugs were standardized and 307 different admixtures were assessed for pH, osmolarity and vesicant nature. Of these, 123 admixtures (40%), had osmolarity values >600 mOsm/L, pH < 4 or > 9, or were classified as vesicants. In these cases, selection of the most suitable route of infusion and vascular access device is crucial to minimize the risk of phlebitis-type complications.
Conclusions
Increasing safety of intravenous therapy should be a priority in the healthcare settings. Knowing the characteristics of drugs to assess the risk involved in their administration related to their physicochemical nature may be useful to guide decision making regarding the most appropriate vascular access and devices.
Can we talk about the existence of "hazardous medical devices"? Achau Muñoz, Rubén; Gaspar Carreño, Marisa; Ponce Sillas, Ana ...
Farmacia hospitalaria : organo oficial de expresion cientifica de la Sociedad Espanola de Farmacia Hospitalaria,
2017-Jul-01, Volume:
41, Issue:
4
Journal Article
To develop a safety working procedure for the employees in the Intermutual Hospital de Levante (HIL) in those areas of activity that deal with the handling of hazardous drugs (MP).
The procedure was ...developed in six phases: 1) hazard definition; 2) definition and identification of processes and development of general correct work practices about hazardous drugs’ selection and special handling; 3) detection, selection and set of specific recommendations to handle with hazardous drugs during the processes of preparation and administration included in the hospital GFT; 4) categorization of risk during the preparation/administration and development of an identification system; 5) information and training of professionals; 6) implementation of the identification measures and prevention guidelines.
Six processes were detected handling HD. During those processes, thirty HD were identified included in the hospital GFT and a safer alternative was found for 6 of them. The HD were classified into 4 risk categories based on those measures to be taken during the preparation and administration of each of them.
The development and implementation of specific safety-work processes dealing with medication handling, allows hospital managers to accomplish effectively with their legal obligations about the area of prevention and provides healthcare professional staff with the adequate techniques and safety equipment to avoid possible dangers and risks of some drugs.
Desarrollar un procedimiento de trabajo seguro para los trabajadores del Hospital Intermutual de Levante (HIL) en las distintas áreas de actuación relacionadas con la manipulación de medicamentos peligrosos (MP).
El procedimiento se desarrolló en seis fases: 1) definición de medicamento peligroso; 2) definición e identificación de procesos y elaboración de recomendaciones generales sobre selección y manejo de MP; 3) detección, selección y establecimiento de recomendaciones específicas para el manejo durante la preparación y la administración de los MP incluidos en la GFT del hospital; 4) categorización del riesgo durante la preparación/administración y desarrollo de un sistema de identificación; 5) información y formación a los profesionales; 6) implantación de las medidas de identificación y las pautas de actuación.
Se detectaron seis procesos implicados en el manejo de MP. Se identificaron 30 MP incluidos en la GFT del hospital y se encontró una alternativa más segura para seis de ellos. Los MP se clasificaron en cuatro categorías de riesgo en función de las medidas a adoptar durante la preparación y administración de cada uno de ellos.
El desarrollo e implementación de procedimientos de trabajo específicos para el manejo seguro de medicamentos permite a los responsables de un hospital cumplir de forma efectiva con las obligaciones legales en materia preventiva, así como proporcionar a los trabajadores un medio adecuado para evitar la posible peligrosidad de algunos medicamentos.
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