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EASE OF ACCESS TO INTRAVENOUS DRUG COMPATIBILITY INFORMATION FOR CLINICAL PRACTITIONERS
European Statement
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Author(s)
K. Teimori, H. Colldén, R. Asadian Falahieh
Why was it done?
Therapy at an intensive care unit (ICU) involves co-infusion of multiple drugs into the same IV line. This may involve mixing of incompatible drugs resulting in particulates being infused, putting the patient at risk. In 2012, a local survey showed 65% (n=142) of participating nurses had co-administered drugs where they were unsure of their compatibility. Preventing incompatibilities by providing healthcare practitioners with point of care IV drug compatibility information fitted to local needs was deemed a necessity. Drug compatibility requires a thorough understanding of chemistry, and information from published studies must be evaluated and assessed to determine applicability to local clinical conditions. Clinics had requested the support of pharmacists for this work.
What was done?
An online intravenous (IV) compatibility database based on these data was created. A group of international clinical pharmacists interested in collaborating in improving the quality of the database was identified. Information material aimed at educating healthcare personal was developed.
How was it done?
Published drug compatibility data and information on physiochemical properties were collected and assessed by a team of hospital pharmacists for applicability to seven clinics. Support, guidance and expertise in the subject had been readily offered to clinical practitioners through telephone calls, email and meetings.
What has been achieved?
Six custom compatibility charts totaling 3600 drug pairs have been created, and procedure documents for IV compatibility have been implemented in each clinic. Over 30 educational lectures on IV compatibility have been held.
The database consisting of 2500 drug combinations presents accessible detailed information on compatibility. Its quality is continuously reviewed by international colleagues.
What next?
The database is fitted to national clinical traditions, providing accessible data to nurses and physicians to support decisions on which drugs to co-infuse. In the next few years, the database will become nationally available. If integrated into the electronic journal system, this could help doctors consider compatibility issues while prescribing, further improving patient safety.