Pilot Study for a New Drug Infusion Labelling System

Abstract

Labelling of intravenous (IV) drug infusions in a non-uniform manner often leads to issues of risk of harm to patients and time / financial wasting. Ideally a straightforward, convenient and standardised method of labelling IV drug infusions should significantly reduce these risks. The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (AAGBI), in conjunction with the Intensive Care Society, the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the Faculty of Accident and Emergency Medicine has previously published guidelines on syringe labelling in critical care areas in May 2003 1 and June 2004 2. These guidelines are based on a colour-coded labelling system primarily intended for syringes being used to administer drug boluses manually. All drugs with similar clinical actions are labelled in the same colour. This aims to minimise the risk of inadvertently administering a drug with different pharmacological actions in much the same way that gas cylinders in hospital have a colour-coding system. The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust implemented this syringe labelling system across theatres and critical care areas and saw a reduction in drug errors as a result.