Adverse occurences with drugs in Intensive Care Unit: analysis of the administration of electrolyte solutions and antibiotics

Abstract

The aims of this study were: 1) to verify the incidence of adverse occurences (AO) with medication related to the time of electrolyte solutions infusion and the frequency of doses of antibiotics prescribed and administered to the patients; 2) to characterize the nature of those occurences. The study was developed in two ICUs of a general hospital of São Paulo City. The population was composed by 51 patients that were in the ICUs in August of 1996. Sixty percent of the patients were older than 60 years, 58,8% were women, 49,1% remained in ICU from 1 to 4 days and 41,2% went to the Intermediate Care Units after ICU. Regarding the incidence of AOs related to the time of administration of the electrolyte solutions and the frequency of doses of antibiotics the non execution of the patient's medical prescriptions was verified in 76,3% and 38,8% respectively. The largest frequency of irregularies with the electrolyte solutions (60,2%) was the infusion faster than the prescribed time followed by the reduction of the number of doses of antibiotics administered. Taking these into consideration we have to invest in preventive measures to reduce those occurrences.