CP-128 Assessment of error and pharmaceutical intervention in parenteral nutrition prescribing in neonatology

Abstract

Background Parenteral Nutrition (PN) prescriptions are not free from error. To validate a PN prescription the pharmacist is responsible for assessing the prescribed intake of nutrients, based on the information regarding the newborn (NB), such as gestational age (GA), weight, medical record and lab test results, in order to reduce medication errors. Purpose To evaluate errors detected during validation of the PN prescriptions from Neonatology and the acceptance by the physicians of the pharmaceutical interventions. Material and methods Retrospective study of pharmaceutical interventions in PN prescriptions from Neonatology, carried out between July 2012 and August 2014. The parameters used were: number of PN prescriptions, number and type of errors detected and number of interventions accepted by the physician. Errors were categorised in relation to the PN prescription data, NB identification, NB data (weight, GA, birth date), enteral nutrition, micronutrients intake, Ca/P ratio, addition/omission of heparin, osmolarity, addition/omission of the volume and type of serum used in the infusion. The statistical analysis was performed in Excel. Results From 953 PN prescriptions, 78 errors were detected, corresponding to 8% of all pharmaceutical interventions made. Of these, 3 were in PN prescription data, 6 in NB identification, 11 in NB data (weight, GA, birth date), 3 in enteral nutrition, 19 in micronutrient intake, 3 in Ca/P relation, 18 in addition/omission of heparin, 4 in osmolarity, and 11 in addition/omission of the volume and type of serum used in the infusion. Seventy pharmaceutical interventions (90%) were accepted by physicians. Conclusion The number of errors detected was relatively low, the main errors being found in micronutrient intake and in addition/omission of heparin. The pharmaceutical interventions were accepted by the physicians in the majority of the cases. Therefore, the Pharmacist has an indispensable role in PN prescription validation, in order to reduce medication errors and increase the efficacy and safety of drugs. References and/or Acknowledgements No conflict of interest.