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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
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A prospective observational study of medication errors in a pediatric emergency department

J Lalande1, B Vrignaud1, D Navas2

  • 1Pediatric emergency department, University hospital of Nantes, Hôpital Mère-Enfant, CHU de Nantes, quai Moncousu, 44093 Nantes cedex 1, France.

Archives De Pediatrie : Organe Officiel De La Societe Francaise De Pediatrie
|August 2, 2018
PubMed

Insights

This study found a low incidence of medication errors (ME) in a pediatric emergency department, with most errors related to analgesics and antibiotics. Interventions like prescription validation by senior staff may help reduce these drug errors.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Pharmacovigilance
  • Patient Safety

Background:

  • Medication errors (ME) pose a significant risk in pediatric healthcare.
  • Understanding the incidence and characteristics of ME is crucial for developing targeted safety interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the incidence and determinants of medication errors in a university hospital's pediatric emergency department.
  • To identify common types and contributing factors of medication errors in pediatric prescriptions.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, observational study analyzing handwritten prescriptions for children under 15 years.
  • Systematic review of 11,573 prescriptions by a clinician and pharmacist.
  • Statistical analysis to identify factors associated with medication errors.

Main Results:

  • The overall incidence of medication errors was 0.9% (102 out of 11,573 prescriptions).
  • Medication errors were significantly more common in children older than 5 years (OR=2.05; P=0.026).
  • Errors predominantly involved analgesic (51%) and antibiotic (30%) prescriptions; no serious errors were reported.

Conclusions:

  • A low incidence of medication errors was observed in this pediatric emergency setting.
  • Validation of prescriptions by senior multidisciplinary staff may reduce medication errors.
  • Continued measures are needed to address common risk situations for medication errors.

Keywords:
Emergency roomMedication errorPediatricsPrescription

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