A Comprehensive Analysis of Medication Errors on Antimicrobials in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Northern India

Abstract

Background: Medication errors, resulting from incomplete understanding, pose significant risks to patient safety. Antimicrobial medication error is a global concern further exacerbated by underreporting. This study aims to determine the prevalence of antimicrobial medication errors at a tertiary care medical facility. Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted over six months. Antimicrobial medication errors were analyzed and categorized as prescription, transcription, indenting, dispensing, and administration errors. A total of 208 antimicrobial medication errors were analyzed using the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCCMERP) risk index. Results: Among 6,439 medication charts assessed, 558 (9%) medication errors were identified, with antimicrobial errors accounting for 208 (37.2%). Prescription errors were the most prevalent (61%), followed by transcription errors (16%) and administration errors (11%). Dispensing, indenting, and documentation errors occurred at rates of 8%, 2%, and 2%, respectively. The primary causes of errors were incorrect doses (47.2%) and frequencies (30%). Approximately 55.3% of antimicrobial medication errors were classified as Category C according to the NCCMERP risk assessment. Conclusion: Prescription errors represent the majority of antimicrobial medication errors, underscoring the need for enhanced vigilance among consultant physicians during prescription writing and drug schedule checks.