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Relation between safe use of medicines and Clinical Pharmacy Services at Pediatric Intensive Care Units

Lucas Miyake Okumura1, Daniella Matsubara da Silva2, Larissa Comarella2

  • 1Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.

Revista Paulista De Pediatria : Orgao Oficial Da Sociedade De Pediatria De Sao Paulo
|September 1, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Clinical Pharmacy Services (CPS) significantly reduced preventable drug-related problems (DRPs) in a Brazilian Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Implementing bedside CPS is crucial for improving pediatric patient safety and reducing hospital stays.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric critical care medicine
  • Clinical pharmacy
  • Patient safety

Background:

  • Clinical Pharmacy Services (CPS) are a recognized standard of care, endorsed by major health organizations.
  • While CPS are emerging in Brazil, their impact, particularly in pediatric settings, remains underreported.
  • This study focuses on the implementation of bedside CPS in a Brazilian Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effect of implementing bedside Clinical Pharmacy Services (CPS) in a Brazilian Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
  • To identify the types and frequency of drug-related problems (DRPs) encountered in pediatric intensive care.
  • To assess the impact of CPS interventions on patient outcomes, specifically length of stay.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study was conducted in a 12-bed PICU in Campo Largo, Brazil.
  • Patients under 18 years old admitted to the PICU who received CPS intervention were included.
  • Data collected included the number and types of preventable drug-related problems (DRPs) and interventions performed.

Main Results:

  • A total of 141 preventable drug-related problems (DRPs) were identified among 53 patients.
  • Clinicians accepted 89% of the CPS interventions.
  • The most common interventions involved preventing incompatible intravenous solutions (21%) and optimizing medication doses (17%).
  • Antimicrobials were among the top ten medications associated with DRPs.
  • A significant correlation was found between the number of DRPs and the length of stay, with DRPs accounting for 74% of the variation.

Conclusions:

  • Clinical Pharmacy Services (CPS) are effective in preventing adverse drug reactions and drug-related problems (DRPs) in pediatric intensive care.
  • Multidisciplinary collaboration is essential for implementing evidence-based strategies to minimize medication-related morbidity.
  • Bedside CPS can significantly contribute to improved patient safety and reduced length of stay in PICUs.
Abstract

Keywords:
Critical careCuidados intensivosDrug‐related side effects and adverse reactionsEfeitos colaterais relacionados a medicamentos e reações adversasErros de medicaçãoIntensive Care Units, PediatricMedication errorsPatient safetyPharmacy Service, HospitalSegurança do pacienteServiço de Farmácia, HospitalUnidades de Cuidado Intensivo Pediátrico

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