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BackgroundThis study aimed to assess the types and frequency of medication errors in our NICUs (neonatal intensive care units).MethodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on two neonatal intensive care units of two hospitals over 3 months. Demographic information, drug information and total number of prescriptions for each neonate were extracted from medical records and assessed.ResultsA total of 688 prescriptions for 44 types of drugs were checked for the assessment of medical records of 155 neonates. There were 509 medication errors, averaging (SD) 3.38 (+/− 5.49) errors per patient. Collectively, 116 neonates (74.8%) experienced at least one medication error. Term neonates and preterm neonates experienced 125 and 384 medication errors, respectively. The most frequent medication errors were wrong dosage by physicians in prescription phase [WU1] (142 errors; 28%) and not administering medication by nurse in administration phase (146 errors; 29%). Of total 688 prescriptions, 127 errors were recorded. In this regard, lack of time and/or date of order were the most common errors.ConclusionsThe most frequent medication errors were wrong dosage and not administering the medication to patient, and on the quality of prescribing, lack of time and/or date of order was the most frequent one. Medication errors happened more frequently in preterm neonates (P < 0.001). We think that using computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system and increasing the nurse-to-patient ratio can reduce the possibility of medication errors.

BackgroundMany newborns may need to be hospitalized and receive drugs during the first days of their lives. These drugs are fundamentally prescribed as off-label and unlicensed. This study aimed to investigate the amount of these kinds of drugs administered in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) of Abuzar and Imam Khomeini Teaching Hospitals in Ahvaz, Iran.MethodsThis was a 3-month descriptive, cross-sectional study with retrospective nature in which 193 hospitalized newborns were studied. Demographic data were extracted from the patients’ files. The drugs were classified as off-label, unlicensed or licensed according to the Pediatric & Neonatal Dosage Handbook (Lexicomp®, 22nd Edition).ResultsIn total, 1049 prescriptions were registered for the 193 hospitalized newborns (term and preterm). For each newborn, the mean numbers of prescriptions and drugs received were 5.4 and 4.5, respectively. The mean numbers of prescriptions and drugs were greater for preterm newborns.Of the total 1049 prescriptions, 38.1% were off-label and 1.9% were unlicensed. Of the 193 newborns, 85% received at least one off-label or unlicensed prescription. Off-label prescriptions were mostly related to dose (44.8%) and dosing interval (36.5%). Most off-label drugs were antibiotics (mainly Gentamicin). Albuterol was used off-label in 100% of the cases.ConclusionsThe results of the present study show that the prescription of off-label and unlicensed drugs in NICUs is as high in Iran as in other countries. This suggests that it is necessary to provide information to neonatologists to decrease the prescription of off-label and unlicensed drugs.