[Recommendations on standard concentrations for continuous infusion of medicinal products in intensive care units]

Numerous medications are continuously administered to intensive care patients. To minimize medication errors standardized concentrations and dose adjustment by the infusion rate are recommended. This principle is already widely accepted in German intensive care units (ICUs). However, the active ingredients and concentrations used are still heterogeneous throughout the country.

The aim of the ADKA/DIVI (Bundesverband Deutscher Krankenhausapotheker/Deutsche Interdisziplinäre Vereinigung für Intensiv- und Notfallmedizin) initiative was to create a nationwide standard for adult continuous intravenous infusions in German ICUs by an expert panel.

A mandated group of experts developed a nationwide standard concentration list for continuous infusion in a two-stage, consensus-based process. In stage 1, the inclusion of active substances was agreed upon, and in stage 2, the standard concentrations to be recommended were decided upon. The decision-making process was based on predefined decision criteria.

The continuous infusion standard contains 41 active substances with 49 standard concentrations (37 substances with 1 concentration [conc.], heparin 2 conc., epinephrine and sufentanil 3 conc., norepinephrine 4 conc.), along with the appropriate vehicle solution, and the physicochemical stability over maximum 24 h.

The resulting continuous infusion standards are practical and evidence-based and represent a central component for improving medication safety in ICUs. Implementation of the standard list in German ICUs should be facilitated by interdisciplinary teams.