Cómo optimizar la seguridad en el uso de medicamentos en urgencia / How to optimize the safe use urgency medicines

Medication errors are defined as any preventable event that may cause harm to the patient or lead to inappropriate medication use. There are factors that determine the occurrence of medication errors in health services, such as: insufficient knowledge of patient care load, fast speed in care, variety and complexity of the routes of drug administration, among others. There are multiple studies in Emergency Departments where increased incidence of medication errors where observed. In our Emergency Department the frequency of medication errors was established at 29.4 percent. To avoid these errors, prevention strategies were generated depending on the type of error. As specific strategies in our emergency department we have assured the presence of a clinical pharmacist in the health team, local protocols for indications have been created and ongoing training of health personnel has been mandatory. The objective of these measures is to ensure quality and safety of patient care. We recognize that errors will occur due to the type of care we provide, and therefore we should implement measures at hand to reduce them...

Infección por metapneumovirus humano en niños hospitalizados por una enfermedad respiratoria aguda grave: descripción clínico- epidemiológica / A human metapneumovirus infection in hospitalized infant patients with severe acute respiratory tract infection: a clinical and epidemiological view

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a newly recognized virus associated with upper and lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). A prospective - 2 - years study aimed to evaluate the circulation rate and the clinical features associated with hMPV infection was conducted in children hospitalized by a severe LRTI. Results: hMPV was found in 24 (10.5 percent) out of the 229 children enrolled. 42 percent> hMPV patients were under 12 months-old and 58 percent have at least one risk factor for severe course of the illness. The most common diagnosis was pneumonia (62.5 percent). Fourty two percent of the patients required assisted ventilation for severe respiratory failure. Co-infections with other respiratory viruses did not result in greater severity of illness. In conclusion our study supports the significant role of hMPV as a major pathogen in severe LRTI in children.

El metapneumovirus humano (hMPV) es un virus de reciente diagnóstico. Se asocia con infecciones respiratorias agudas altas y bajas (IRAb). Se efectuó un estudio prospectivo durante dos años con el objetivo de evaluar la tasa de circulación y los hallazgos clínicos asociados a la infección por hMPV en niños hospitalizados por una IRAb grave. Resultados: hMPV fue demostrado en 24 (10,5 por ciento) de los 229 niños enrolados. 42 por ciento de los pacientes con hMPV eran menores de 12 meses de edad y el 58 por ciento tenía al menos un factor de riesgo para evolución grave de la enfermedad. El diagnóstico más frecuente fue neumonía (62,5 por ciento). Un 42 por ciento de los pacientes requirieron ventilación mecánica asistida por falla respiratoria severa. La co-infección con otros virus respiratorios no significó una enfermedad más grave. En conclusión nuestro estudio confirma la importancia del hMPV como un agente importante en la IRAb grave en niños.

Infecciones respiratorias agudas bajas en niños: estudio etiológico prospectivo / Lower respiratory tract infections in children: a prospective etiological study

Background: Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is a serious cause of morbidity and admission among children. The aim of the present investigation was to determine the etiology of severe LRTI in hospitalized children by several laboratory methods in a systematic way. Methods: A 2-year prospective study. Results: A potential causative agent was detected in 155(68 percent) of the 229 patients. A viral infection was identified in 60 percent, 15 percent had bacterial infection and 4 percent had evidence of concomitant viral-bacterial infection. Virus, with the predominance of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the most common agent in children younger than 24 month. Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae were the most important bacteria. Conclusions: The possible causative agent on childhood LRTI could be detected in most cases. The data confirm the importance of virus especially RSV in the LRTI in hospitalized children.

Resumen: Las infecciones respiratorias agudas bajas (IRAb) son causa importante de morbilidad y de hospitalización en los niños. El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar la etiología de IRAb grave de niños hospitalizados por varios métodos diagnósticos en forma protocolizada. Método: Estudio prospectivo en dos años consecutivos. Resultados: Un posible agente causal fue detectado en 155 (68 por ciento) de 229 pacientes: Infección viral fue identificada en 60 por ciento, bacteriana: 15 por ciento y mixta: 4 por ciento. Virus, principalmente virus respiratorio sincicial (VRS) fue el agente etiológico más frecuente en menores de 24 meses. Mycoplasma pneumoniae y Streptococcus pneumoniae fueron las principales bacterias aisladas. Conclusiones: Un posible agente causal de la IRAb en niños pudo ser identificado en la mayoría de los casos. Los datos confirman la importancia de los virus, especialmente VRS, en la IRAb en niños hospitalizados.