Abstract
Background: Newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are exposed to numerous medications during their hospital stay. The clinical variability of neonates makes them particularly vulnerable to drug-related problems (DRPs), leading to potential treatment inefficacy. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of DRPs and identify associated risk factors in neonates with sepsis in the NICU. Methods: This prospective observational research was conducted at a children's medical center in Iran from December 1, 2021, to March 1, 2022. Data were collected through daily physician orders and nursing reports, with DRPs classified according to Cipolle's standards. Logistic regression was utilized to determine risk factors for DRPs, with significance set at P < 0.05. Results and Conclusions: A total of 272 neonates with sepsis were included in the study, with mean birth weight and gestational age of 1781 ± 912 g and 35.4 ± 1.3 weeks, respectively. DRPs were observed in 57.5% of neonates (95% CI: 55.8 - 63.8%), with ineffective drugs (24.1%) and dosage issues (19.7% too low, 22.6% too high) being the primary causes. Antimicrobials accounted for the majority of DRPs (61.2%), with Gentamicin (21.5%) and Amikacin (17.3%) being the most commonly involved medications. Risk factors for DRPs included feeding intolerance and vomiting, with ineffective drug selection and inappropriate dosing impacting treatment efficacy.
Published Version
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