Perdas físicas de imunobiológicos no estado do Ceará, 2014-2016 / Pérdidas físicas de inmunobiológicos en el estado de Ceará, Brasil, 2014-2016 / Physical wastage of immunobiological products in the state of Ceará, Brazil, 2014-2016

Objetivo: descrever as perdas físicas, por descarte, dos imunobiológicos fornecidos pelo Programa Nacional de Imunizações (PNI) ao estado do Ceará no período 2014-2016, e os custos das doses perdidas. Métodos: estudo descritivo, com dados dos formulários de avaliação de imunobiológicos sob suspeita e dos pareceres favoráveis de descarte. Resultados: foram incluídos 317 formulários, dos quais 72,0% obtiveram parecer de descarte; foram identificadas 160.767 doses perdidas, totalizando um custo de R$ 1.834.604,75; as perdas representaram 0,45%, 0,93% e 0,53% do custo total das vacinas nos anos de 2014, 2015 e 2016, respectivamente; o principal motivo das perdas físicas identificadas foi a falta de energia elétrica (54,9%). Conclusão: identificou-se grande número de doses descartadas por perdas físicas, com elevado custo absoluto; faz-se necessário um controle mais rigoroso, pois falhas na dinâmica de conservação podem interferir na oferta dos imunobiológicos.

Objetivo: describir las pérdidas físicas por eliminación de inmunobiológicos proporcionados por el Programa Nacional de Inmunización (PNI) al estado de Ceará, en el periodo 2014-2016, y los costos de las dosis omitidas. Métodos: estudio descriptivo, con datos de formula-rios de evaluación de los inmunobiológicos sospechosos y de las opiniones favorables de descarte. Resultados: se incluyeron un total de 317 formularios, de los cuales el 72,0% obtuvo una opinión de descarte, y se identificaron 160.767 dosis omitidas, con un costo total de R$ 1.834.604,75; las pérdidas representaron el 0,45%, el 0,93% y el 0,53% del costo total de las vacunas en 2014, 2015 y 2016, respectivamente; la razón principal de las pérdidas físicas identificadas fue la falta de electricidad (54,9%). Conclusión: iden-tificamos un gran número de dosis descartadas por pérdidas físicas, con un alto costo absoluto; es necesario un control más estricto, ya que las fallas en la dinámica de conser-vación pueden interferir con el suministro de inmunobiológicos.

Objective: to describe discarded wasted immunobiological products provided by the National Im-munization Program (PNI) to the State of Ceará between 2014 and 2016, and the costs of discarded doses. Methods: this was a descriptive study using data from suspect im-munobiological product evaluation forms and data from disposal approval forms. Results: a total of 317 forms were included, 72.0% of which had a disposal approval form, and 160,767 discarded doses were identified, at a total cost of BRL 1,834,604.75; wastage accounted for 0.45%, 0.93% and 0.53% of the total cost of vaccines in 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively; the main reason for the wastage identified was electric power shortage (54.9%). Conclusion: we identified a large number of discarded wasted doses, with high absolute cost; tighter control is necessary, as failures in conservation dynamics may interfere with the supply of immunobiologicals.

Technical issues and conservation conditions of medicines in the primary health care of the Brazilian Unified Health System / Situação sanitária dos medicamentos na atenção básica no Sistema Único de Saúde

OBJECTIVE To characterize the technical issues and conditions of medicines conservation in Primary Health Care of Brazilian regions, responsible for pharmacy/dispensing unit profile; environmental, storage, and dose fractioning conditions; inventory control and waste management; fire and electrical failure safety items; transportation problems; advertising regulation; and pharmacovigilance. METHODS This article is part of the Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos - Serviços (National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines - Services)-, a cross-sectional and exploratory study, of evaluative nature, consisting of an information survey within a representative sample of municipalities, stratified by Brazilian regions, which constitute the study domains, and a sample of Primary Health Care services. Pharmaceutical services (PS) were directly observed with photographic record and face-to-face interviews with those responsible for the dispensing of medicines and over the telephone with those responsible for pharmaceutical services. Data were processed with the SPSS® software version 21. RESULTS The investigated dimensions showed relevant deficiencies and inequalities between the regions, generally more favorable in the Southeast and Midwest regions and weaker in the Northeast and North regions. We verified non-compliance with technical requirements and conditions essential to the conservation of medicines, which may interfere with the maintenance of stability and, thus, on their quality, efficacy, and safety. The regulation of advertising/promotion of medicines is still incipient and there is some progress in the structuring of mechanisms regarding pharmacovigilance. CONCLUSIONS The sanitary situation of medicines in Brazilian Primary Health Care is alarming due to the violation of the specific sanitary legislation for dispensing establishments and due to a wide range of requirements essential to the conservation of medicines. We observed a disconnection between the efforts made in the Brazilian Unified Health System to promote access to medicines for all population and the organization and qualification of pharmaceutical services.

OBJETIVO Caracterizar a situação sanitária dos medicamentos na Atenção Básica, nas regiões brasileiras, quanto a requisitos técnico-sanitários, responsável pela farmácia/unidade de dispensação, condições ambientais, de armazenamento, e de fracionamento, controle de estoque e gerenciamento de resíduos, itens de segurança contra incêndio e pane elétrica, problemas no transporte, regulamentação da propaganda e farmacovigilância. MÉTODOS Artigo integrante da Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos - Serviços, um estudo transversal, exploratório, de natureza avaliativa, composto por um levantamento de informações numa amostra representativa de municípios, estratificada pelas regiões brasileiras, que constituem domínios do Estudo, e uma amostra de serviços de Atenção Básica. Realizou-se observação direta dos serviços farmacêuticos com registro fotográfico e entrevistas presenciais com os responsáveis pela entrega de medicamentos e por telefone com o responsável pela assistência farmacêutica. Os dados foram processados com o software SPSS® versão 21. RESULTADOS As dimensões investigadas mostraram deficiências relevantes e desigualdades entre as regiões, em geral mais favoráveis nas regiões Sudeste e Centro-Oeste e mais deficitárias nas regiões Nordeste e Norte. Constatou-se descumprimento de requisitos técnicos e sanitários imprescindíveis à conservação dos medicamentos que podem interferir na manutenção da estabilidade e, assim, na sua qualidade, eficácia e segurança. A regulação da propaganda/promoção de medicamentos ainda é incipiente e existe algum avanço na estruturação de mecanismos em relação à farmacovigilância. CONCLUSÕES A situação sanitária dos medicamentos na Atenção Básica no Brasil desperta preocupações pelo descumprimento da legislação sanitária específica para os estabelecimentos de dispensação e de um amplo conjunto de requisitos imprescindíveis à conservação dos medicamentos. Constatou-se um descompasso entre os esforços no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde para promover o acesso aos medicamentos para toda a população e a organização e qualificação dos serviços farmacêuticos.

Fluoride stability in dentifrices stored in schools in a town of northern Brazil

The aim of this study was to analyze fluoride stability in dentifrices stored during nine months in schools from Careiro da Várzea, State of Amazonas, Brazil. Analysis of total fluoride concentration, total soluble fluoride, and ionic fluoride in the dentifrice samples was performed in four different time periods: at the time of purchase (baseline); after three months, after six months, and after nine months of storage. Fluoride concentration was determined using a specific electrode (Orion 96-09) connected to an ion analyzer (Orion A-720) and calibrated with fluoride standard solutions containing 2.0 to 32.0 ppm F. The results obtained during the measurements were analyzed by analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA), followed by Tukey’s test for comparison of the means. After nine months of storage, total soluble fluoride, the active form of fluoride, decreased by 21.9%. As total soluble fluoride was below the minimum required for anticaries efficacy (1,000 ppm F) in the fourth analysis, it may be concluded that anticaries potential decreased with storage time.

Avaliação da qualidade de conservação de vacinas na atenção Primária à saúde / Assessment of quality of vaccine storage and conservation in primary health care centers

Estudo avaliativo do grau de qualidade da conservação de vacina nas Unidades de Atenção Primária à Saúde da região Centro-Oeste do Estado de Minas Gerais. Foram utilizados critérios das dimensões, estrutura e processo para mensurar o grau de qualidade das 261 salas de vacina distribuídas nos 55 municípios da região. O grau de qualidade foi definido por meio de um sistema de escores com pesos diferenciados para indicadores em cada dimensão avaliada sendo definidas as categorias: "adequado", "não adequado" e "crítico". Para verificar a relação entre o grau de qualidade e o porte populacional e adesão ao SUS utilizou-se o teste do qui-quadrado de Pearson. Observou-se que o grau de qualidade de conservação de vacina não era adequado em 59,3% e 26,9% apresentaram grau crítico de qualidade. Os municípios de pequeno porte habilitados na Gestão Plena da Atenção Básica concentraram as piores salas de vacina. O cuidado com a conservação de vacinas aponta para a necessidade de capacitação dos recursos humanos, de monitoramento e avaliação do processo de trabalho e de novos estudos na área.

This is an evaluative study of the quality of vaccine storage and conservation in primary health care centers (PHC) in the mid-west region of the state of Minas Gerais. Dimensions, structures and processes were the criteria used to measure the level of quality in 261 vaccine storage and conservation units in over 55 municipalities in the area. Quality levels were defined by means of a scoring system with different weighted scores attributed to indicators for each dimension being rated. Categories for quality levels were then defined as: "adequate," "inadequate" and "critical." Pearson's chi-square test was used to verify the correlation between quality level and population size and adherence to the Unified Health System. It was observed that vaccine storage and conservation quality levels were inadequate in 59.3% and critical in 26.9% of these facilities. Small municipalities that are registered for Full Primary Health Care Management featured the worst vaccine storage facilities. Vaccine conservation supervision, which spans a series of activities present in nursing praxis, indicates the need to train human resources, monitor and assess work processes and conduct further studies in the field.

Vaccine Storage Practices and the Effects of Education in Some Private Medical Institutions / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: Although vaccination rates have increased, problems still remain in the storage and handling of vaccines. This study focused on inspecting actual vaccine storage status and awareness, and comparing them before and after education was provided. METHODS: In the primary inspection, a status survey checklist was completed by visual inspection. A questionnaire on the awareness of proper vaccine storage and handling was also administered to vaccine administrators in private medical institutions in 4 regions in Gyeongsangbuk-province. One-on-one education was then carried out, and our self-produced manual on safe vaccine storage and management methods was provided. In the secondary inspection, the investigators visited the same medical institutions and used the same questionnaire and checklist used during the primary inspection. The results before and after education were compared, by treating each appropriate answer as 1 point. RESULTS: The average checklists score was 9.74 (out of 15 points), which increased significantly after education was provided (by 0.84, p<0.001). The participants demonstrated improved practices in recording storage temperatures (p=0.016), storing vaccines in the center of the refrigerator (p=0.004), storing vaccines with other medication and non-medical items (p=0.031) after education. The average score calculated from the questionnaires was 10.48 (out of 14 points), which increased after education (by 1.03, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that vaccine storage practices and awareness are inadequate, but can be partially improved by providing relevant education. Repetitive education and policy-making are required to store vaccines safely because one-off education and unenforced guidelines offer limited efficacy.

Quality of essential drugs in tropical countries: evaluation of antimalarial drugs in the Brazilian Health System / Qualidade de medicamentos essenciais em países tropicais: avaliação de medicamentos antimaláricos no Sistema de Saúde do Brasil

INTRODUCTION: The emergence of drug resistance is one of the main problems concerning malaria treatment. The use of counterfeit and/or substandard antimalarial drugs can contribute to the development of parasite resistance. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of antimalarial drugs distributed in Brazil. METHODS: Samples containing chloroquine phosphate, mefloquine hydrochloride, primaquine phosphate, and quinine sulfate tablets were delivered to the Rio de Janeiro central storeroom (CENADI), state storerooms (SS), and Basic Health Units (BHUs) in the north region of Brazil - a total of 10 sample sets. After 5 months of storage, the samples were collected, and in vitro quality control analyses according to official and published methods were performed. RESULTS: Inadequate drug storage conditions were found in two SS and in all BHUs evaluated. There were no quality deviations found in the chloroquine samples. The quinine samples exhibited weight variation above the allowed limits. The primaquine samples were found to have packaging deficiency. The release of mefloquine in samples from some regions showed a statistically significant difference when compared with the CENADI samples. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to periodically evaluate the quality and storage conditions of essential drugs. The quality deviations found with the primaquine and quinine samples are not related to storage conditions and must be addressed urgently. The decreased mefloquine release from tablets is related to formulation problems or influenced by inadequate storage conditions, prompting further investigation. Even with the mentioned problems, the samples would probably not contribute to resistant parasite selection.

INTRODUÇÃO: O aparecimento de resistência aos medicamentos é um dos maiores problemas do tratamento da malária. O uso de medicamentos falsos e/ou de má qualidade pode contribuir para o desenvolvimento de resistência no parasita. Este estudo tem por objetivo avaliar a qualidade dos medicamentos antimaláricos distribuídos no Brasil. MÉTODOS: Amostras contendo comprimidos de difosfato de cloroquina, cloridrato de mefloquina, difosfato de primaquina e sulfato de quinina foram enviadas ao almoxarifado central na Cidade do Rio de Janeiro (CENADI), almoxarifados estaduais (SS) e Unidades Básicas de Saúde (UBS) nos estados da região norte do Brasil, totalizando dez amostras. Após cinco meses de armazenamento, as amostras foram coletadas e analisadas segundo métodos oficiais e da literatura. RESULTADOS: Foram encontradas condições inadequadas de armazenamento de medicamentos em duas SS e em todas as UBS avaliadas. Não foram encontrados problemas de qualidade com as amostras de cloroquina. As amostras de quinina apresentaram variação de peso acima dos limites permitidos. Amostras de primaquina foram encontradas com problemas na embalagem. A cedência de mefloquina de comprimidos, em algumas regiões, apresentou diferença estatisticamente significativa quando comparada com a amostra do CENADI. CONCLUSÕES: É importante avaliar, periodicamente, a qualidade e as condições de armazenamento de medicamentos essenciais. Desvios de qualidade encontrados com as amostras de primaquina e quinina não estão relacionados às condições de armazenamento e devem ser corrigidos urgentemente. O decréscimo na cedência de mefloquina dos comprimidos está relacionado com a formulação ou foi influenciada por condições de armazenamento inadequadas, necessitando de uma investigação posterior. Apesar dos problemas mencionados, as amostras provavelmente não contribuiriam para a seleção de parasitas resistentes.

Estoque doméstico e uso de medicamentos em uma população cadastrada na estratégia saúde da família no Brasil / Household storage and use of medications in a population served by the family health strategy in Brazil

OBJETIVO: Identificar domicílios atendidos pela estratégia saúde da família (ESF) que possuíam estoque de medicamentos, avaliar as condições de armazenamento e conhecer o modo de uso dos medicamentos. MÉTODOS: O estudo foi conduzido em um município do Estado de São Paulo que possui duas unidades da ESF, com 1 867 domicílios cadastrados; a amostra foi definida por meio de sorteio aleatório estratificado. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas de julho a outubro de 2008. RESULTADOS: Foi entrevistado um morador em cada um dos 280 domicílios visitados. Foram encontrados medicamentos em 255 domicílios (91,1 por cento). Dos 326 locais de guarda de medicamentos, 217 (75,8 por cento) eram inadequados (de fácil acesso a crianças ou expostos a umidade, luz). Das 2 578 especialidades farmacêuticas encontradas, 2 059 (79,9 por cento) tinham algum problema de segurança ou identificação, o que foi observado em 236 (84,3 por cento) domicílios. Dos 280 entrevistados, 179 (63,9 por cento) eram usuários de medicamentos. Desses, 24 estavam se automedicando, apenas um com medicamento que não exigia prescrição. Somente 44 usuários tinham a prescrição do medicamento. O medicamento era usado de forma diferente da prescrição por 21 entrevistados, por desacordo posológico ou interrupção do tratamento. CONCLUSÕES: A maioria dos domicílios estudados armazenava os medicamentos de forma inadequada. As discordâncias em relação às orientações médicas prescritas podem levar a resultados negativos, como ineficácia por uso de doses abaixo do prescrito, intoxicações por doses acima do prescrito, reações adversas e não adesão terapêutica.

OBJECTIVE: To identify families served by the family health strategy (FHS) storing medicines at home, to evaluate storage conditions, and to investigate medicine use practices. METHODS: The study was conducted in a municipality in the state of São Paulo with two FHS units serving 1 867 households. The sample was selected by means of stratified random sampling. Data collection was conducted through semistructured interviews from July to October 2008. RESULTS: One resident was interviewed in each of the 280 households visited. Medicines were found in 255 households (91.1 percent). Of 326 storage locations, 217 (75.8 percent) were inadequate (easily accessible to children or exposed to moisture, light). Of the 2 578 medicines identified, 2 059 medicines (79.9 percent) in 236 (84.3 percent) households had safety or identification problems. Of the 280 respondents, 179 (63.9 percent) used medications. Of these, 24 were self-medicating, only one with an over-the-counter drug. Only 44 users had the prescription for their medication, and 21 did not follow the prescription in terms of dosage or had interrupted the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Non-adherence to recommended treatment can lead to negative outcomes, such as inefficiency (using dosages lower than prescribed), poisoning (using dosages higher than prescribed), and other adverse reactions.

Aspectos relacionados à administração e conservação de vacinas em centros de saúde no Nordeste do Brasil / Aspects related to vaccine management and preservation in healthcare centers in the Northeastern Brazil

O estudo caracteriza a experiência e atualização do conhecimento sobre imunização da equipe de enfermagem responsável pelas salas de vacinas, descreve as condições de trabalho nesse setor a partir da visão dessa equipe e identifica os procedimentos e atividades diárias realizados por esses profissionais. Trata-se de estudo transversal, realizado em 2007, nas salas de vacinas de 11 Centros de Saúde da Família (CSF) em Fortaleza (CE), com a participação de 22 profissionais da equipe de enfermagem. Utilizou check-list e questionário autoaplicável como instrumentos de coleta. Entre as participantes, 44,4 por cento das enfermeiras e 30,8 por cento dos técnicos/auxiliares têm mais de cinco anos de experiência; 55,6 por cento das enfermeiras não possuíam treinamento em vacinas; 88,9 por cento das enfermeiras e 76,9 por cento dos outros profissionais se mantêm atualizados consultando livros, manuais e Internet. Detectaram-se lacunas quanto a estrutura física, verificação e registro do mapa de temperatura e orientações sobre os efeitos pósvacinais na maioria das salas estudadas. O estudo sinaliza que gerenciar o trabalho com imunobiológicos requer conhecimento e treinamento específico para que se possa ofertar serviço de qualidade e que não comprometa a erradicação e o controle de doenças imunopreveníveis.

This study characterizes the expertise and updated knowledge on immunization of nursing team responsible for vaccine rooms; it describes the work conditions in that sector from the team's view, and identifies the procedures and daily activities performed by such professionals. This cross-sectional study conducted in 2007 in vaccine rooms of 11 Family Healthcare Centers (CSF) in Fortaleza (CE, Brazil), involved 22 nursing team professionals and used a checklist and self-applicable questionnaire as the survey instrument. Among the participants, 44.4 percent were nurses and 30.8 percent technicians/assistants have an experience of more than five years; 55.6 percent of the nurses had attended no training on vaccines; and 76.9 percent of all other professionals keep themselves updated by referring to books, manuals and the Internet. Gaps in physical structure, examination and record of temperature maps, and guidance on post-vaccine effects were detected in most rooms under study. The study indicates that managing any vaccination work requires knowledge of the area and specific training to allow the professionals to provide a quality service to the population in a way to ensure the eradication and control of immunopreventable diseases.

Nursing Care and Patient Safety: Visualizing Medication Organization, Storage and Distribution with Photographic Research Methods / Cuidados de enfermagem e segurança do paciente: visualizando a organização, acondicionamento e distribuição de medicamentos com método de pesquisa fotográfica / Cuidado de enfermería y seguridad del paciente: visualizando la organización, acondicionamiento y distribución de medicamentos con método de investigación fotográfica

In this qualitative study, we adapted photographic research methods from earlier nursing research to identify factors related to organization, storage and distribution that could lead to errors in the selection, preparation and administration of medications. The research excerpt presented here was developed in a clinical unit of an urban Brazilian public hospital. The research participants were nurses working at that unit and students from the two final semesters of the Undergraduate Nursing Course. We collected digital photographs of the medication system and subsequently used photo elicitation to review the images with research participants, so as to obtain their perceptions and narratives of working with medications in the unit. We report selected findings here on the organization, storage and distribution of medications, which indicate there is room to improve the safety of the medication system.

Neste estudo qualitativo, adaptou-se o método de pesquisa fotográfica de estudos anteriores, para identificar fatores relacionados à organização, acondicionamento e distribuição que poderiam levar a erros na seleção, preparo e administração de medicamentos. O recorte da pesquisa apresentado foi desenvolvido em unidade de clínica médica de um hospital público, Brasil. Os participantes da pesquisa foram enfermeiros que trabalhavam naquela unidade e acadêmicos dos dois últimos semestres do curso de graduação em Enfermagem. Obtiveram-se fotografias digitais do sistema de medicação e, subsequentemente, utilizou-se a elicitação das fotos para rever imagens com os participantes da pesquisa, a fim de obter suas percepções e narrativas a respeito do trabalho com medicamentos, naquela unidade. Apresenta-se uma seleção dos principais achados da pesquisa sobre organização, acondicionamento e distribuição de medicamentos, indicando que há espaço para melhorar a segurança do sistema de medicação.

En este estudio cualitativo, se adoptó el método de investigación fotográfica de estudios anteriores, para identificar factores relacionados a la organización, acondicionamiento y distribución, los que podrían conducir a errores en la selección, preparación y administración de medicamentos. Esta parte de la investigación que se presenta fue desarrollada en una unidad de clínica médica de un Hospital Público, en Brasil. Los participantes de la investigación fueron enfermeros que trabajaban en aquella unidad y estudiantes de los dos últimos semestres del Curso de Graduación en Enfermería. Fueron obtenidas fotografías digitales del sistema de medicación y subsecuentemente, se obtuvieron las fotos para analizar las imágenes con los participantes de la investigación, a fin de obtener sus percepciones y narrativas al respecto del trabajo con medicamentos en aquella unidad. Se presenta una selección de los principales hallazgos de la investigación sobre organización, acondicionamiento y distribución de medicamentos, indicando que hay espacio para mejorar la seguridad del sistema de medicación.

In-home drug storage and self-medication with antimicrobial drugs in Basrah, Iraq

To estimate the prevalence of self-medication with antimicrobial drugs and to record the stored medicine at home. This is a descriptive study involving a questionnaire survey to determine the extent of drug storage and self-medication. A total of 300 household units in Basrah, Iraq were including in this study. A survey was conducted in 300 households in Basrah, southern Iraq to determine the availability, source, and storage conditions of medicinal drugs and the prevalence of self medication with antimicrobials. The majority of households [94%] stored drugs at home. A total of 4279 of different types of drug preparations were encountered, the mean being 14.26 products/household. The results also showed that a minority of these drugs [31%] were rationally prescribed. Hence only 31% of the total drugs were for current use, while 45% were leftovers and 23% of the drugs were kept for future use. A large proportion of the stored drugs [66%] was obtained from private pharmacies. Only 42% of all the drugs were stored appropriately. Antibiotics, as a group was the most common drug stored and used at home [26%]. The results indicated that the level of education has influence over dose compliance, storage of expired drugs and drugs exchange. Furthermore, a majority of the families [78%] admitted to practicing self-medication. The most common reasons for self-medication with antimicrobial drugs were associated with influenza, upper respiratory tract infections, diarrhea and tonsillitis. There are numerous indications of inappropriate storage, self-medication, poor compliance and use of drugs that have been kept beyond their expiry date in Basrah, Iraq

Status of cold-chain maintenance in Chandigarh.

An effective cold chain maintenance system is the backbone of success of any immunization program. This study compares the state of cold chain maintenance during intensive pulse polio immunization campaign in union territory of Chandigarh in the year 2001 with that of 2006. The study was conducted during pulse polio rounds of December 2001 and January 2002 and another in April and May 2006 by Department of Community Medicine, Govt. Medical College, Chandigarh. Data was collected from different levels of cold chain maintenance; OPV vials were also collected and sent for potency testing at Central Research Institute, Kasauli in all the rounds. Cold chain sickness rate has decreased from 9.8% in year 2001 to 6% in year 2006. Icepacks were neatly stacked in all the deep freezers (DF) and ice-lined refrigerators (ILR). 94.71% DF's & ILR's were defrosted periodically, 95.36% temperature charts were up-to-date and signed by supervisors and no day carriers were being used in 2006 round. Whereas in 2001, the periodicity of defrosting ILR & DFs was 76.9%, vaccines were stacked neatly in only 38.46% and day carriers were being used. All the randomly selected vaccine samples were reported potent.

Tratamento da deficiência do hormônio de crescimento (GH) em crianças: comparação entre o uso de canetas versus frascos/seringas para a aplicação do GH / Growth hormone (GH) deficiency treatment in children: comparison between uses of pen versus bottles/syringes on GH administration

O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar as duas apresentações de GH recombinante humano (rGH) para tratamento da deficiência de GH (DGH). Dez crianças pré-púberes portadoras de DGH foram acompanhadas durante 6 meses. Elas receberam, por 3 meses, injeções com seringa e, a seguir, com canetas por mais 3 meses. A aceitabilidade foi avaliada através de questionário. O desperdício foi calculado através da diferença entre o número de frascos/refis utilizados e o previsto para o período. A resposta ao tratamento foi avaliada pelo ganho em desvio-padrão (DP) de altura medido a cada 3 meses. Após 6 meses, 90 por cento dos pacientes/familiares afirmaram preferir a caneta em termos de facilidade técnica e dor local, e todos consideraram a caneta melhor em termos de facilidade de transporte e armazenamento. O desperdício foi menor com a caneta, assim como o custo. Concluímos que a administração de rGH através de caneta é mais conveniente, melhor aceita pelos pacientes e resulta em menor desperdício quando comparada com o tratamento por seringa.

The aim of this study was to compare two preparations of recombinant human GH (rGH) in the treatment of GH deficient patients. Ten prepubertal GH-deficient children were followed during 6 months. They received injections with syringe for 3 months, followed by pen administration for the subsequent 3 months. Acceptability was evaluated through a questionnaire. Waste of medication was calculated by the difference between the number of used bottles or refills and the calculated amount for the period. Treatment response was evaluated by SDS gain of height measured each 3 months. After 6 months, 90 percent of patients/family members declared they preferred the pen regarding technical facility and local pain, and all patients considered the pen easier to transport and store. The waste of medication was lower with pen administration, as was the final cost. We concluded that pen-administered rGH treatment is more convenient, better accepted by the patients, and leads to less waste of medication when compared to the syringe administration.

La dispensación de medicamentos desde la perspectiva de los expendedores - una experiencia con grupos focales – / The drugstore clerks view for the dispensation of drugs

Los dispensadores de medicamentos en Colombia son un grupo de personas que tienen una gran responsabilidad en el manejo adecuado de los fármacos. La mayoría de ellos no tienen la formación técnica y científica necesaria que les permita brindar la información que requieren los pacientes Con la aplicación de la investigación cualitativa se busca identificar las cualidades y calidades de los dispensadores de medicamentos relacionadas con práctica que realizan. En este trabajo se encontró que el personal que está dedicado al despacho de los medicamentos no tiene formación técnica ni profesional en el tema, el área física de la mayoría de las farmacias estudiadas es insuficiente generando caos en la atención, el volumen tan alto de fórmulas despachadas por día no les permite atender adecuadamente al usuario ni brindarle la información que requieren; los despachadores en muchas oportunidades no identifican el nombre de los antimicrobianos y los entregan sin fórmula médica...

Evaluation of cold chain system in rural areas of Haryana.

Evaluation of cold chain system was done in a time bound study during August and September months of 1992 in two districts of Haryana as there were frequent breakdowns of icelined refrigerators during the previous year. The study revealed that defective stabilizers and electricity plugs and sockets were the reason of breakdown in many cases. Temperature maintenance and functioning of deep freezers was satisfactory. Retrospective analysis showed that the polio vaccine samples picked up during 1990-92 were found to be satisfactory by CRI, Kasauli. Use of two ice-pick carrier and thermos flasks was associated with poor temperature maintenance. Seven vaccine carriers out of 25 examined had cracked wall lining. Lids of carriers were also not kept tight during vaccination sessions. Response lag of the health workers and medical officers in case of breakdowns was delayed. A one day refresher course exclusively on cold chain maintenance at community health centre level is recommended.