The appropriate use of human albumin in a Brazilian University Hospital: therapeutic indication and dosage regimen

The objective of the study was to evaluate the use of human albumin in a Brazilian university hospital, in compliance with the institutional protocol and other clinical guidelines, taking into account the therapeutic indications and the dosage regimens. Data was obtained from the pharmacy dispensing records of human albumin, the requests for use it and, when available, the patient's records between January and October 2017. After evaluation the therapeutic indications and the dosage regimens were classified as "appropriate" and "inappropriate". The analysis of 98 requests showed that, when compared to the institutional protocol, 54 (55.1%) requests had an inappropriate therapeutic indication. However, when a comparison was made between 25 medical records (54 requests) and other clinical guidelines, it was observed that the therapeutic indication had none classified as inappropriate. In addition, 16 (29.7%) requests were considered inappropriate in relation to dosage regimens. From these results, it was possible to conclude that although the use of human albumin in the hospital was associated to a clinical protocol, it was outdated. Thus, it is possible to affirm that not only the adoption of a clinical protocol, but its periodical updating is an important strategy to promote the rational use of drugs.

A percepção de profissionais de saúde sobre cultura de segurança do paciente em hospital universitário / The perception of health professionals about patient safety culture in a university hospital

A Cultura de Segurança (CS) conceitua-se como o produto de valores, atitudes, competências e padrões de comportamento individuais e de grupo, os quais determinam o compromisso da administração de uma organização segura. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a CS do paciente em hospital universitário, por meio da aplicação do instrumento Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC), que possui 42 itens divididos em 12 dimensões. O HSOPSC foi entregue aos funcionários de todos os departamentos do hospital e de diferentes níveis de escolaridade, no período de dezembro de 2016 à maio de 2017. Os percentuais de respostas positivas, neutras e negativas foram calculados para identificar áreas fortes e frágeis para CS. Dos 430 questionários distribuídos, 368 (86%) foram considerados válidos. A porcentagem geral de respostas positivas foi de 50,3%. A dimensão "Ações e expectativas sobre seu supervisor/chefe e ações promotoras da segurança do paciente" obteve o maior percentual de respostas positivas (67,1%), entretanto, nenhuma dimensão atingiu o valor acima de 75% para ser considerada uma "área forte" para segurança do paciente. A principal fragilidade para CS foi observada na dimensão "Respostas não punitivas aos erros", com menor porcentagem de respostas positivas (22,9%) e menor mediana (41,7%). A maioria dos profissionais (70,6%) não realizou notificação de eventos nos últimos 12 meses, os funcionários do departamento médico ou de nível superior de escolaridade foram os que apresentaram a menor frequência dessas notificações. Apesar disso, 69,5% dos participantes consideraram a segurança do paciente dentro da unidade/área de trabalho como "excelente" ou "muito boa". Conclui-se que a CS da instituição foi considerada mediana, sendo identificados dimensões frágeis, tais como: respostas não punitivas aos erros e adequação de profissionais. Assim, deve-se investir, principalmente, na promoção e disseminação de uma CS justa e não punitiva em todas as áreas do hospital

The Safety Culture (SC) is conceptualized as the product of values, actions, skills and patterns of behavior of individuals and group, which determine the commitment of the management of a safe organization. The objective of this study was to evaluate the SC oh the patient in a university hospital, through the application of the instrument Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC), which has 42 items divided into 12 dimensions. The HSOPSC was delivered to employees in all hospital departments and at different educational levels from December 2016 to May 2017. The percentages of positive, neutral and negative responses were calculated to identify strong and fragile areas for SC. Of the 430 questionnaires distributed, 368 (86%) were considered valid. The overall percentage of positive responses was 50.3%. The dimension "Actions and expectations about your supervisor and actions that promote patient safety" obtained the highest percentage of positive responses (67.1%). However, no dimension reached a value above 75% so could be considered an "strong area" for patient safety. The main fragility for SC was observed in the dimension "Non-punitive responses to errors", with a lower percentage of positive responses (22.9%) and a lower median (41.7%). Most professionals (70.6%) did not report events in the last 12 months, the medical department or higher educational level employees presented the lowest frequency of these reports. Despite this, 69.5% of the participants considered patient safety within the unit/work area to be "excellent" or "very good". Our results showed that the SC of the institution was considered median, and fragile dimensions were identified, such as: non-punitive responses to errors and adequacy of professionals. Thus, it is necessary to invest mainly in promoting and disseminating a fair and non-punitive culture in all areas of the hospital

Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among bacteria isolated from intensive care units of the largest teaching hospital at the northwest of Iran

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among common pathogens in the intensive care units (ICUs) of a university hospital in northwestern Iran. A retrospective study was done on laboratory records of patients with nosocomial infection who were admitted to five ICUs of Imam Reza Hospital during a 21-month period from March 2010 to January, 2012. A total number of 556 isolates from 328 patients were evaluated. The most common sites of infections included respiratory (51.7%), urinary (24.8%), and blood (10.4%). The most frequently isolated microorganisms were Enterobacter aerogenes (50.6%) followed by Escherichia coli (16.7%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7.5%). Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent pathogen among gram-positives (39.7%). The rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was 87.5%. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacteria were documented in 25.8% of Acinetobacter, 20% of Klebsiella, and 16.6% of Pseudomonas. The most active antimicrobials were vancomycin (93.5%) followed by amikacin (71.5%) and gentamicin (46%). The overall antibiotic susceptibility was as follows: 36% ciprofloxacin, 19% imipenem, 20% trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 20.5% ceftazidime, and 12% ceftriaxone. Due to the high rate of antimicrobial resistance in the ICU setting, more surveillance and control of the use of antimicrobials is needed to combat infections.

Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a University Hospital in the South of Brazil

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) stand out as one of the main agents causing nosocomial and community infections. This retrospective study aimed to analyze the MRSA predominance in a university hospital in the south of Brazil and it was carried out for five years (from 2007 to 2011). 616 MRSA (33,3% of the total) were isolated and an important reduction in the MRSA predominance was observed along the study. Although it was registered a reduction in the MRSA predominance, male adult patients (41-70 years old), who were in the Medical Clinic and Adult ICU, had the highest infection rates and concerning MRSA isolates rates, these were higher in blood and tracheal aspirates. In conclusion, studies of this type are becoming relevant to recognize pathogens like MRSA and to determine its predominance.

Staphylococcus aureus resistentes à meticilina (MRSA) destacam-se mundialmente como um dos mais frequentes patógenos nosocomiais e comunitários. Este estudo retrospectivo teve por objetivo analisar a prevalência de MRSA em um hospital universitário no sul do Brasil. Durante cinco anos (2007 a 2011), 616 MRSA (33,3% do total de S. aureus) foram isolados, sendo que sua frequência de isolamento apresentou considerável redução no decorrer do estudo. Nossos resultados demonstraram que as maiores taxas de isolamento dos MRSA ocorreram em amostras de sangue e secreção traqueal. As infecções prevaleceram em pacientes adultos (41 a 70 anos), do sexo masculino, internados na Clínica Médica e UTI adulto. Estudos como este se tornam importantes para o reconhecimento de patógenos resistentes, como o MRSA, e para a determinação da sua prevalência.

The medicine selection process in four large university hospitals in Brazil: Does the DTC have a role?

Knowledge about evidence-based medicine selection and the role of the Drug and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) is an important topic in the literature but is scarcely discussed in Brazil. Our objective, using a qualitative design, was to analyze the medicine selection process performed in four large university hospitals in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Information was collected from documents, interviews with key informants and direct observations. Two dimensions were analyzed: the structural and organizational aspects of the selection process and the criteria and methods used in medicine selection. The findings showed that the DTC was active in two hospitals. The structure for decision-making was weak. DTC members had little experience in evidence-based selection, and their everyday functions did not influence their participation in DTC activities. The methods used to evaluate evidence were inadequate. The uncritical adoption of new medicines in these complex hospital facilities may be hampering pharmaceutical services, with consequences for the entire health system. Although the qualitative approach considerably limits the extent to which the results can be extrapolated, we believe that our findings may be relevant to other university hospitals in the country.

A produção de conhecimento sobre a seleção de medicamentos baseada em evidências e executada por Comissões de Farmácia e Terapêutica é ainda escassa no Brasil, apesar da ampla discussão sobre o tema em países desenvolvidos. Este estudo buscou conhecer e analisar os aspectos relacionados à seleção de medicamentos em quatro hospitais universitários de grande porte no Rio de Janeiro, por meio de abordagem qualitativa. Entrevistas, observação direta e análise documental instrumentaram a coleta de dados qualitativos e quantitativos. A análise considerou duas dimensões: (i) estrutura e organização para o processo de seleção e (ii) critérios e métodos utilizados para avaliação. Apenas dois hospitais possuíam Comissão de Farmácia e Terapêutica (CFT) ativa. A estrutura para a tomada de decisão era deficiente e os membros das Comissões apontaram pouca experiência e disponibilidade para a atividade. Os métodos de avaliação e critérios observados indicaram um processo de seleção acrítico nestes hospitais, comprometendo a assistência farmacêutica e potencialmente prejudicando o sistema de saúde. Apesar da metodologia qualitativa não permitir a extrapolação de resultados, é possível que este cenário seja parecido com o de outros hospitais universitários brasileiros.

Pharmaceutical care in transplant patients in a university hospital: pharmaceutical interventions

A descriptive and prospective study was conducted on the pharmaceutical care in the post-transplant outpatient clinic of Hospital Universitario Walter Cantidio of Universidade Federal do Ceará (HUWC/UFC), in Fortaleza- Ceará in the period of April to October of 2011. The aim of the present study was to describe the pharmaceutical interventions performed in a Pharmaceutical Care service structured in the liver and kidney transplant outpatient clinic of an academic hospital. The Pharmaceutical interventions (PI) were classified according to Sabater et al.(2005), with significance based on Riba et al.(2000) and the Negative Outcomes associated with Medication (NOM) established at the Third Consensus of Granada. Statistical analyses were performed using the Epi Info v.3.5.1 program and hypothesis tests were done with the SigmaPlot v.10.0 program. A chi-squared (X²) test was utilized for statistical analysis of the sample. A total of 97 patients were followed, where 54 problems related to medications were identified and 139 PI performed. The main PI were in education of the patient about treatment (n=111; 80%) (p<0.05), while the significance of all interventions were appropriate, where 83.4% (n=116) of PI performed in the study period were shown to be "significant" (p<0.05). Through pharmaceutical care, the pharmacist is capable of monitoring the pharmacotherapeutic treatment and intervening when necessary, while being part of the multiprofessional team caring for the transplant patient.

Trata-se de um estudo de descritivo e prospectivo, realizado durante o atendimento farmacêutico nos ambulatórios de pós-transplante do Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio da Universidade Federal do Ceará (HUWC/UFC), em Fortaleza-Ceará no período de abril a outubro de 2011. O presente trabalho objetiva apresentar as intervenções farmacêuticas realizadas em um serviço de Atenção Farmacêutica (ATENFAR) estruturado nos ambulatórios do transplante hepático e renal de um Hospital Universitário. As intervenções farmacêuticas (IF) foram classificadas de acordo com Sabater et al.(2005), a significância baseadas em Riba et al.(2000) e os Resultados Negativos associados a Medicamentos (RNM) fundamentados no Terceiro Consenso de Granada. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas no programa Epi Info v.3.5.1 e os testes de hipótese foram feitos no programa SigmaPlot v.10.0. O teste estatístico utilizado para análise da amostra foi o qui-quadrado (X²). Foram acompanhados 97 pacientes, identificados 54 problemas relacionados aos medicamentos e realizadas 139 intervenções farmacêuticas. As principais IF realizadas foram na educação do paciente sobre o tratamento (n=111; 80%) (p<0,05), já enquanto a significância todas as intervenções foram apropriadas, sendo que 83,4% (n=116) das IF realizadas no período do estudo mostram ser "significantes" (p<0,05). O farmacêutico, através do exercício da ATENFAR, é capaz de monitorar o tratamento farmacoterapêutico e intervir, quando necessário, integrando-se a equipe multiprofissional no cuidado ao paciente transplantado.

Use of an indicator to evaluate physician adherence to prescription guidelines for the treatment of heart failure

The aim of this study was to use indicators to evaluate physician adherence to prescription guidelines for heart failure treatment in a university hospital. This was a prospective cohort study conducted in a university hospital. The information collected at the time of patient admission, including therapeutic indication, absolute contra indications and intolerance, was utilised for the formulation of a guideline adherence indicator (GAI). This indicator was calculated as follows: (the number of patients who used the medication/the number of eligible patients) x 100. The percentage of eligible patients was calculated using the following formula: (the number of eligible patients/the total number patients) x 100. The GAI was applied to a population of 53 patients. Inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme/angiotensin receptor blocker (ACE-I/ARB) combination therapy were used in the greatest percentage of eligible patients (92.4%) and demonstrated the largest GAI value (73.5%). The percentages of patients who were eligible for beta-blockers, spironolactone and digitalis treatments were 81.1%, 52.8% and 60.4%, respectively. The GAI values for the use of beta-blockers, spironolactone and digitalis were 60.4%, 57.1% and 56.2%, respectively. For the studied patient population, the GAI was consistent with the proportion of patients who were eligible to receive digitalis and spironolactone.

O objetivo deste estudo foi utilizar indicadores para avaliar a adesão de médicos às diretrizes para tratamento da Insuficiência Cardíaca em um hospital universitário. Estudo de coorte prospectivo, conduzido em um hospital universitário. As variáveis coletadas na admissão do paciente foram: indicação terapêutica, contraindicações absolutas e intolerância, sendo utilizadas para elaboração de um indicador de adesão à diretriz (IAD). Este indicador foi calculado através da relação: (número de pacientes que utilizaram o medicamento/número de pacientes elegíveis) x 100. A % de pacientes elegíveis foi calculada da seguinte forma: (número de pacientes elegíveis/número total de pacientes) x 100. Os IAD foram aplicados para uma população de 53 pacientes. Os Inibidores da Enzima Conversora de Angiotensina/Bloqueadores dos Receptores de Angiotensina foram as classes farmacológicas que apresentaram maior % de pacientes elegíveis (92,4%) e apresentaram o melhor IAD (73,5%). A % de pacientes elegíveis para beta-bloqueadores, espironolactona e digitálicos foi de 81,1%, 52,8% e 60,4%, respectivamente. O IAD para beta-bloqueadores foi 60,4%, espironolactona 57,1% e digitálicos 56,2%. Na população estudada, o IAD foi compatível com a proporção de pacientes elegíveis para digitálicos e espironolactona.