A prospective descriptive study on emergency medicines used most frequently from the emergency medicine packs at Universitas Academic Hospital and the associated financial loss of expired emergency medicines

Resuscitation trolleys with equipment and medicines for emergencies are required in all clinical areas in hospitals. Emergency medicines kept separately are more likely to expire than non-emergency medicines, as these are generally used less frequently. An updated list of essential emergency medicines was implemented in 2016 at an academic hospital in central South Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of both the use and the expiry, with associated financial losses, of the emergency medicines on this list. Methods: A prospective, descriptive study was conducted over a six-month period in 2019. Forms accompanying the emergency packs were returned to the pharmacy whenever packs expired or were opened. These forms were collected and the type and quantity of medicines either used or expired were recorded. Results: In total, 168 of the returned forms were included. The most frequently used emergency medicines were adrenaline, sodium bicarbonate and Ringer's lactate. Adrenaline use was recorded on 52.8% and 25% of the forms from the adult/paediatric and neonatal emergency packs, respectively. Medicines that were never used included: betamethasone, Darrow's half-strength solution and most of the neonatal pack medications. Neonatal emergency medicine packs were rarely used and the neonatal fluid packs were never used. The total cost of the expired medicines was R7 960.29 (US$569.41 at the time of the study). Adrenaline was the medication that expired most frequently but the greatest financial losses occurred from expired sodium bicarbonate. Conclusion: The total financial losses were low but can be reduced further. The contents of the emergency packs should be reviewed to possibly reduce the amount of items used infrequently. Also, the removal of those items not recommended in emergency care guidelines could be considered. Ensuring the policy was followed of returning unused medicines close to expiry and redistributing these to high-use areas would further reduce wastage

Study on Major Causes of Organs Condemnation and Financial Loss in Cattle Slaughtered at Hayik Municipal Abattoir

A cross- sectional study was conducted from October, 2016 to April, 2017 to identify and determine the major diseases and pathological conditions of organ condemnation and to estimate the magnitude of the direct financial losses attributed to the condemned organs from cattle slaughtered in the Hayik municipal abattoir. From a total of 384 animals, 61(15.88%) of animals antemortem inspection showed some clinical sign that were assumed as minor and attention was paid at postmortem examination of these animals. During post postmortem examination from 384 slaughtered animal liver 72 (18.75%) followed by lung 25 (6.5%), heart 17(4.4%), kidneys 18(4.68%) and tongue 18(4.68%) were rejected due to various causes. The main causes of organ condemnation were fasciolosis 24(33.33%) followed by calcification, abscess and hydrated cyst 12(16.67%), 12(16.67%) and 9(12.5%) respectively. An attempt also made to estimate the direct financial losses due to condemnation of edible organs during meat inspection. Consequently, annual direct financial loss from organ condemnation was estimated to be 3,736,231.25 Ethiopian Birr. The study identified the parasitic disease as major causes of organ condemnation. Therefore, creation of awareness on animal attendants and/or cattle owners and abattoir workers about the effect of parasites and safe disposal of condemned organs must be made and recommended as the findings showed that the rate of organ condemnation at the abattoir is very high which signifies the need for rapid disease control programs to be implemented