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Acetaminophen dose accuracy and pediatric emergency care
1Children's Hospitals and Clinics-St. Paul, Emergency Department, 345 North Smith Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55102, USA. joseph.losek@childrenshc.org
Pediatric Emergency Care
|May 5, 2004
Summary
Emergency department acetaminophen use in children revealed that 12% received supratherapeutic doses. The rectal route was significantly associated with higher acetaminophen doses, warranting a review of dosing accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Drug Safety
Background:
- Acetaminophen is commonly used for fever in pediatric emergency departments.
- Standing orders streamline medication administration but require careful monitoring for accuracy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize children receiving acetaminophen via emergency department standing orders.
- To identify factors linked to supratherapeutic acetaminophen doses (>or=16 mg/kg).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, cross-sectional study of children treated with acetaminophen.
- Data collected from an urban children's hospital emergency department over one week.
Main Results:
- 156 (24%) of 661 children received acetaminophen; 41% were under 2 years old.
- 12% of children received supratherapeutic doses (>=16 mg/kg).
- The rectal route of administration was significantly more common in children receiving supratherapeutic doses.
Conclusions:
- Dosing accuracy for acetaminophen, especially via the rectal route, needs review in EDs using standing orders.
- Ensuring appropriate acetaminophen dosing is crucial for pediatric patient safety.