Medication Errors Require Intensive Care Unit Admission

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the incidence and characteristics of medication errors (MEs) requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and to determine the medication associated with MEs. Methods: A 6-month prospective observational study was conducted in the general adult ICU of a teaching hospital (Salmaniya Medical Complex, Bahrain). Patients admitted to the ICU were screened to determine which admissions were related to MEs. The medication errors were categorized based on medication class, polypharmacy, and the main system involved during the admission. Result: A total of 177 patients were included during the study period. MEs related to ICU admission accounted for 14.67% of total ICU admission during the study period. Polypharmacy patients who received more than five medications had a higher incidence of MEs (n= 17; 61.54%). Almost all MEs occurred during the prescribing phase. Anticoagulant medications were associated with one-third of MEs require ICU admissions, with a mortality rate of 62%. The average length of ICU stay in these patients was 7.73 days ± 4.43, with a mortality rate (26.92%; n = 7). The average cost of ICU admissions related to MEs was $213,262 USD. Conclusion: ICU admissions due to MEs are common. Anticoagulant found to be the most common drug class related to MEs and it was associated with a high mortality rate.