Compliance with good practice in prescription writing at outpatient clinics in Saudi Arabia

A sample of prescription orders received from outpatient departments by a hospital pharmacy in Asir, Saudi Arabia, were analysed over 1 year for the essential elements of prescriptions. The prescriber's name, address and signature were on 83.3%, 9.6% and 81.9% of prescriptions respectively. The patient's name, age and sex were on 94.6%, 77.3% and 51.3%. No prescription contained the patient's address and weight. Generic drug names were used in only 15.1% and strength of medication and dose units were included in 26.6% and 55.6% of prescriptions. Most prescriptions [94.0%] had no quantity indicated and had only partial instructions for patient use [90.7%]; the diagnosis was included in about two-thirds. The prescriber's handwriting was illegible in 64.3% of prescriptions. Measures to improve the situation are suggested

Epidemiology of acute renal failure in hospitalized patients: experience from southern Saudi Arabia

Despite advances in health care, morbidity and mortality associated with acute renal failure [ARF] remain high. This study determined the frequency and etiology of ARF in hospitalized patients in Saudi Arabia over 2 years. Of the 150 cases of ARF, 38.0% were community-acquired and 62.0% hospital-acquired. The main cause was acute tubular necrosis [ATN] in 93 patients, due to sepsis [24.7%], ischaemia [12.7%], rhabdomyolysis [mainly from road traffic accidents] [10.7%], drugs [7.3%] and malaria and snake-bites [4.6%]. Overall, 40% died, 48% made a full recovery and 1 patient [0.7%] became dialysis-dependant. Factors associated with poor prognosis were: age 60+ years, community-acquired ARF, peak blood urea nitrogen > 160 mg/dL, duration of ARF > 1 week, need for dialysis and associated chronic liver disease