Disminución de errores de medicación Look-Alike Sound-Alike, mediante la implementación de estrategias preventivas en una clínica de III nivel Barranquilla-Colombia / Decrease in Look-Alike Sound-Alike, medication errors through the implementation of preventive strategies in a third level clinic from Barranquilla-Colombia

Los medicamentos Look-Alike and Sound-Alike (LASA) son frecuentemente causantes de errores de medicación en el proceso de dispensación, con importantes repercusiones desde el punto de vista humano, asistencial y económico.Objetivo: Determinar la disminución de tasa de estos errores de medicación LASA, posterior a la implementación de estrategias de prevención en una clínica de tercer nivel en Barranquilla, Colombia.Método: La investigación fue de tipo experimental, prospectivo; el periodo de estudio fue de 3 meses (enero-marzo 2021); el criterio de inclusión para el estudio fueron los medicamentos del listado básico de medicamentos LASA y los errores de medicación ocasionados por estos. Se implementaron estrategias de prevención de errores tipo LASA, se cuantificó y comparó los errores de medicación presentados antes y después de la implementación de las estrategias. Resultados: En la etapa de pre-implementación de las estrategias se dispensaron 24.300 medicamentos, entre los cuales se presentaron 80 (0,33%) errores de medicación por medicamentos LASA. En la etapa de post-implementación se dispensaron 23.760 medicamentos, y se presentaron 48 (0,20%) errores de medicación por medicamentos LASA, evidenciando una reducción significativa (P-valor: 0,0366314; IC: 95%). Los medicamentos con mismo principio activo y diferente concentración fueron los de mayor incidencia de errores de medicación en el Servicio Farmacéutico, con 37 errores en la etapa de pre-implementación y 19 errores en la etapa de post-implementación.Conclusión: La reducción de la tasa de errores de medicación fue del 40% al implementar las estrategias propuestas, lo que demuestra su efectividad y su potencial para ofrecer una atención más segura y de mayor calidad a los pacientes, a bajo costo. (AU)

Look-Alike and Sound-Alike (LASA) drugs are frequently the cause of medication errors in the dispensing process, with important repercussions from the human, healthcare and economic point of view.Objective: To determine the decrease in the rate of these LASA medication errors, after the implementation of prevention strategies in a third-level clinic in Barranquilla, Colombia. Method: The research was experimental, prospective; the study period was 3 months (January-March 2021); the inclusion criteria for the study were drugs from the clinic’s basic list of drugs that were LASA and the medication errors caused by these. LASA error prevention strategies were implemented; the medication errors presented before and after the implementation of the strategies were quantified and compared.Results: In the pre-implementation stage of the strategies, 24,300 medications were dispensed, among which there were 80 (0.33%) medication errors due to LASA medications. In the post-implementation stage, 23,760 medications were dispensed, and 48 (0.20%) medication errors occurred due to LASA medications, showing a significant reduction (P-valor: 0.0366314; IC: 95%). Medicines with the same active ingredient and different concentrations were those with the highest incidence of medication errors in the Pharmaceutical Service, with 37 errors in the pre-implementation stage and 19 errors in the post-implementation stage.Conclusion: The reduction in the rate of medication errors was 40% after implementing the proposed strategies, which demonstrates their effectiveness and their potential to offer a safer and higher quality care to patients, at low cost. (AU)

Mutational status of PIK3ca oncogene in oral cancer-In the new age of PI3K inhibitors.

In the new age of PI3K inhibitors, the mutational status of PI3Kca oncogene in the Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OC-SCC) needs further analysis. It is the sixth most common cancer in the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate PI3Kca oncogene mutations and to correlate them with the clinical-histological characteristics of individuals presenting these tumors. We recruited 74 individuals with OC-SCC diagnosis (period 2000-2014). Histological sections were used. DNA was purified; PIK3ca gene exons 9 and 20 were amplified and sequenced. In 49/74 cases (66 %), the complete sequence of both codons was analyzed by Sanger method. We found that 7/49 (14 %) individuals mutated. In exon 9 we found 1/49 (2 %), and in exon 20 M1043I 8/49 (16 %). We have found the coexistence of more than one mutation in a same individual (E542 K and M1043I). A positive association was observed between the mutational status of the codon 9 (E542 K) and the tongue location. In conclusion, the frequency of PI3Kca gene mutation in OC-SCC was 16 %, which is similar to that reported for other populations. We found a mutation not previously described (M1043I) in this pathology. Should its biological effect be confirmed, it must be added to the list of PIK3ca mutations. Total mutations in the PIK3ca were 32 %, with tongue being the site at the greatest risk (E542K-E545K-M1043I). These findings would facilitate the identification of patients with therapeutic targets in the near future.

Effect of a toothpaste containing amyloglucosidase and glucose oxidase on recurrent aphthous ulcers.

The aim of this study was to assess whether a toothpaste containing amyloglucosidase and glucose oxidase (Z) provoked any effect on minor recurrent aphthous ulcers, (RAU) as compared with a placebo toothpaste (P). Twenty patients (11 females), suffering from minor RAU, participated in this study during a period of 15 weeks. The patients brushed their teeth twice a day with the toothpaste. They were examined once a week to monitor the number and size of ulcers. The mean number of ulcers in both groups was about 40% lower than that found before treatment. Ulcer mean diameter had also decreased in both the placebo (about 32%) and experimental groups (about 66%). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in number of weeks with ulcers, in total number of ulcers per patient, and in mean diameter of the ulcers. In conclusion, no significant differences in therapeutic effects could be shown between treatments with Z and P.

Effect of a toothpaste containing amyloglucosidase and glucose oxidase on recurrent aphthous ulcers

The aim of this study was to assess whether a toothpaste containing amyloglucosidase and glucose oxidase (Z) provoked any effect on minor recurrent aphthous ulcers, (RAU) as compared with a placebo toothpaste (P). Twenty patients (11 females), suffering from minor RAU, participated in this study during a period of 15 weeks. The patients brushed their teeth twice a day with the toothpaste. They were examined once a week to monitor the number and size of ulcers. The mean number of ulcers in both groups was about 40

lower than that found before treatment. Ulcer mean diameter had also decreased in both the placebo (about 32

) and experimental groups (about 66

). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in number of weeks with ulcers, in total number of ulcers per patient, and in mean diameter of the ulcers. In conclusion, no significant differences in therapeutic effects could be shown between treatments with Z and P.

Effect of a toothpaste containing amyloglucosidase and glucose oxidase on recurrent aphthous ulcers.

The aim of this study was to assess whether a toothpaste containing amyloglucosidase and glucose oxidase (Z) provoked any effect on minor recurrent aphthous ulcers, (RAU) as compared with a placebo toothpaste (P). Twenty patients (11 females), suffering from minor RAU, participated in this study during a period of 15 weeks. The patients brushed their teeth twice a day with the toothpaste. They were examined once a week to monitor the number and size of ulcers. The mean number of ulcers in both groups was about 40

lower than that found before treatment. Ulcer mean diameter had also decreased in both the placebo (about 32

) and experimental groups (about 66

). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in number of weeks with ulcers, in total number of ulcers per patient, and in mean diameter of the ulcers. In conclusion, no significant differences in therapeutic effects could be shown between treatments with Z and P.

[Prevalence of tongue anomalies in children]. / Prevalencía de anomalías linguales en niños.

The prevalence of grooved tongue, geographic tongue, and ankyloglossia, was investigated in 660 children, 3 to 13 years old, which attended the Out patient Clinic of the University Hospital of Buenos Aires for unrelated complaints. The figures obtained are at variance--by far--from those published by other people engaged in the same line of research. Probably, further studies with a much larger amount of patients are called for.

Prevalencía de anomalías linguales en niños / [Prevalence of tongue anomalies in children]

The prevalence of grooved tongue, geographic tongue, and ankyloglossia, was investigated in 660 children, 3 to 13 years old, which attended the Out patient Clinic of the University Hospital of Buenos Aires for unrelated complaints. The figures obtained are at variance--by far--from those published by other people engaged in the same line of research. Probably, further studies with a much larger amount of patients are called for.

Prevalencía de anomalías linguales en niños. / [Prevalence of tongue anomalies in children]

The prevalence of grooved tongue, geographic tongue, and ankyloglossia, was investigated in 660 children, 3 to 13 years old, which attended the Out patient Clinic of the University Hospital of Buenos Aires for unrelated complaints. The figures obtained are at variance--by far--from those published by other people engaged in the same line of research. Probably, further studies with a much larger amount of patients are called for.

Influence of socioeconomic status on oral mucosa lesion prevalence in schoolchildren.

The aim of this survey was to determine the prevalence of oral mucosa lesions in children aged 4-13 yr from two schools, one (S1) having a higher socioeconomic status than the other (S2). In all, 846 children were examined, 463 from S1 and 383 from S2, of whom 555 were boys and 291 were girls. There were 359 boys and 104 girls in S1; 196 boys and 187 girls in S2. Fifteen different lesion types were discerned. The most frequent ones were recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) (92 cases); fissured cheilitis (54); herpes labialis (44); angular cheilitis (30); geographic tongue (25); smooth tongue (22); and plicated tongue (17). An outstanding finding was the contrasting distribution of certain lesion types in the two schools. RAU was observed in 19% of the children from S1, making up 50% of all lesions detected. However, in S2 only 2% exhibited RAU, making up less than 4% of observed lesions. On the other hand, herpes labialis was seen in 1% of S1 and 10% of S2 children, regardless of age or sex. Plicated tongue was found in 3.2% in S1 and 0.5% in S2; fissured cheilitis in 2.9% in S1 and 12.8% in S2; and angular cheilitis in 1.1% in S1 and 6.5% in S2. Therefore, there were no statistical differences between the schools in the ratio of total lesions observed to children examined, but a significant difference was apparent when individual lesions were taken into account.