Evaluación del grado de formación del personal que elabora las nutriciones parenterales en los Servicios de Farmacia / Training degree assessment of staff producing parenteral nutrition in Pharmacy Services

Objetivo: Evaluar el grado de formación del personal que elabora nutrición parenteral en los Servicios de Farmacia. Material y métodos: Se diseñó una encuesta on-line con 17 preguntas en la que se incluyeron los puntos más importantes en la elaboración de nutriciones parenterales. Para el diseño de la encuesta y el análisis posterior se utilizó la aplicación informática Survey monkey®. Resultados: Se obtuvieron un total de 135 respuestas. En el 95% de los Servicios de Farmacia existían normas escritas de elaboración. El 67% contestó que el fosfato se debía añadir cuando se empiezan a añadir los electrolitos y el 34% que no se realizaba la validación de la técnica aséptica de elaboración. En cuanto a la formación, el 19% no la había recibido, considerando necesario recibirla el 99%. Conclusiones: El personal encuestado presenta un grado de formación aceptable, pero son necesarios los cursos de formación que se deben fomentar desde los Servicios de Farmacia (AU)

Objective: To assess the level of expertise of Pharmacy personnel in the manufacturing of total parenteral nutrition. Material and methods: An on-line survey including 17 questions concerning key aspects of TPN manufacturing was designed. Survey monkey software was used to create the survey and to analize its results. Results: 135 answers were received. 95% of the participant Pharmacy services had written standard manufacturing procedures. 67% answered that phosphate salts should be the first electrolite to be additioned into the total parenteral nutrition and 34% affirmed that validation of the aseptic manufacturing technique was not performed. As far as personnel training was concerned, 19% of respondents had not received any specific training, although 99% considered it would be necessary to receive it. Conclusions: The polled personell has an acceptable level of expertise but adequate training courses are still necessary and should be promoted from Pharmacy services (AU)

[Training degree assessment of staff producing parenteral nutrition in Pharmacy Services]. / Evaluación del grado de formación del personal que elabora las nutriciones parenterales en los Servicios de Farmacia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of expertise of Pharmacy personnel in the manufacturing of total parenteral nutrition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An on-line survey including 17 questions concerning key aspects of TPN manufacturing was designed. Survey monkey software was used to create the survey and to analize its results. RESULTS: 135 answers were received. 95% of the participant Pharmacy services had written standard manufacturing procedures. 67% answered that phosphate salts should be the first electrolite to be additioned into the total parenteral nutrition and 34% affirmed that validation of the aseptic manufacturing technique was not performed. As far as personnel training was concerned, 19% of respondents had not received any specific training, although 99% considered it would be necessary to receive it. CONCLUSIONS: The polled personell has an acceptable level of expertise but adequate training courses are still necessary and should be promoted from Pharmacy services.

Objetivo: Evaluar el grado de formación del personal que elabora nutrición parenteral en los Servicios de Farmacia. Material y métodos: Se diseñó una encuesta on-line con 17 preguntas en la que se incluyeron los puntos más importantes en la elaboración de nutriciones parenterales. Para el diseño de la encuesta y el análisis posterior se utilizó la aplicación informática Survey monkey®. Resultados: Se obtuvieron un total de 135 respuestas. En el 95% de los Servicios de Farmacia existían normas escritas de elaboración. El 67% contestó que el fosfato se debía añadir cuando se empiezan a añadir los electrolitos y el 34% que no se realizaba la validación de la técnica aséptica de elaboración. En cuanto a la formación, el 19% no la había recibido, considerando necesario recibirla el 99%. Conclusiones: El personal encuestado presenta un grado de formación aceptable, pero son necesarios los cursos de formación que se deben fomentar desde los Servicios de Farmacia.

[Indicators monitoring the process of specialized nutritional support. Grupo de Nutrición de la SEFH]. / Indicadores de monitorización del proceso de soporte nutricional especializado.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and develop monitoring indicators of the process of specialized nutritional support that will allow measuring the level of adherence to the established practice standards. METHODS: Those practice standards considered to be key elements of the process were selected to develop performance indicators. The construction of these indicators combined the scientific evidence with expert opinion. Key goals were identified within each standard provided that its consecution would allow increasing the achievement of the standard. Particular improvement initiatives associated to each key goal were generated. Lastly, monitoring indicators were defined allowing undertaking a follow-up of the implementation of the improvement initiatives or either to assess the level of achievement of the key goals identified. RESULTS: Nineteen practice standards were selected representative of the critical points of the process. The strategic map for each standard has been defined, with the identification of 43 key goals. In order to achieve these key goals, a portfolio of improvements has been generated comprising 56 actions. Finally, 44 monitoring indicators have been defined grouped into three categories: 1. Numeric: they assess the level of goal achievement; 2. Dichotomic (yes/no): they inform on the execution of the improvement actions; 3. Results of the practice audits. CONCLUSIONS: We have made available monitoring indicators that allow assessing the level of adherence to the practice standards of the process of specialized nutritional support and the impact of the implementation of improvement actions within this process.

Indicadores de monitorización del proceso de soporte nutricional especializado / Indicators monitoring the process of specialized nutritional support

Objetivo: Identificar y desarrollar indicadores de monitorización del proceso de soporte nutricional especializado, que permitan medir el grado de cumplimiento de los estándares de práctica establecidos. Método: Se seleccionaron los estándares de práctica considerados aspectos clave del proceso sobre los que desarrollar indicadores de rendimiento. La construcción de indicadores combinó la evidencia científica con la opinión de expertos. Se identificaron los objetivos clave dentro de cada estándar cuya consecución permitiera incrementar el alcance del mismo. Se generaron iniciativas de mejora concretas vinculadas a cada objetivo clave. Por último, se definieron indicadores de monitorización que permitieran realizar un seguimiento de la implantación de las iniciativas de mejora, o bien valorar el grado de consecución de los objetivos clave identificados. Resultados: Se han seleccionado 19 estándares de práctica representativos de los aspectos críticos del proceso. Se ha definido el mapa estratégico de cada estándar, identificándose un total de 43 objetivos clave. A fin de alcanzar estos objetivos clave se ha generado una cartera de mejoras integrada por 56 acciones. Por último, se han definido 44 indicadores de monitorización agrupados en tres categorías: 1. Numéricos: valoran el grado de cumplimiento del objetivo; 2. Dicotómicos (si/no): Informan de la ejecución de las acciones de mejora; 3. Resultados de las auditorías de la práctica. Conclusiones: Se dispone de indicadores de monitorización que permiten evaluar el cumplimiento de los estándares de práctica del proceso de soporte nutricional especializado y el impacto de la implantación de acciones de mejora en el mismo (AU)

Objective: To identify and develop monitoring indicators of the process of specialized nutritional support that will allow measuring the level of adherence to the established practice standards. Methods: Those practice standards considered to be key elements of the process were selected to develop performance indicators. The construction of these indicators combined the scientific evidence with expert opinion. Key goals were identified within each standard provided that its consecution would allow increasing the achievement of the standard. Particular improvement initiatives associated to each key goal were generated. Lastly, monitoring indicators were defined allowing undertaking a follow-up of the implementation of the improvement initiatives or either to assess the level of achievement of the key goals identified. Results: Nineteen practice standards were selected representative of the critical points of the process. The strategic map for each standard has been defined, with the identification of 43 key goals. In order to achieve these key goals, a portfolio of improvements has been generated comprising 56 actions. Finally, 44 monitoring indicators have been defined grouped into three categories: 1. Numeric: they assess the level of goal achievement; 2. Dichotomic (yes/no): they inform on the execution of the improvement actions; 3. Results of the practice audits. Conclusions: We have made available monitoring indicators that allow assessing the level of adherence to the practice standards of the process of specialized nutritional support and the impact of the Implementation of improvement actions within this process (AU)

Development and implementation of an audit tool for quality control of parenteral nutrition.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this article is to describe the development of a quality control methodology applied to patients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) and to present the results obtained over the past 10 years. Development of the audit tool: In 1995, a total of 13 PN quality criteria and their standards were defined based on literature and past experiences. They were applied during 5 different 6-month audits carried out in subsequent years. According to the results of each audit, the criteria with lower validity were eliminated, while others were optimized and new criteria were introduced to complete the monitoring of other areas not previously examined. Currently, the quality control process includes 22 quality criteria and their standards that examine the following 4 different areas: (1) indication and duration of PN; (2) nutrition assessment, adequacy of the nutrition support, and monitoring; (3) metabolic and infectious complications; and (4) global efficacy of the nutrition support regimen. The authors describe the current definition of each criterion and present the results obtained in the 5 audits performed. In the past year, 9 of the 22 criteria reached the predefined standards. The areas detected for further improvements were: indication for PN, nutrition assessment, and management of catheter infections. CONCLUSIONS: The definition of quality criteria and their standards is an efficient method of providing a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the clinical care of patients receiving PN. It detects areas for improvement and assists in developing a methodology to work efficiently.

[Prevention of adverse events through renal dosage adjustment in institutionalized elders]. / Prevención de acontecimientos adversos mediante ajuste posológico renal en pacientes ancianos institucionalizados.

INTRODUCTION: To present a protocol based on renal dosage adjustment developed to reduce the risk of adverse events in elderly people institutionalized in a geriatric centre and to determine the degree of adaptation to this protocol. MATERIAL AND METHOD: First, we designed a renal adjustment protocol to identify residents with creatinine clearance below 60ml/min, review drug therapy and optimize dosage regimens, if necessary. Then, we evaluated the feasibility of this protocol and adaptation of clinical practice to this protocol through a cross-sectional study of all the residents in the centre. RESULTS: Among the 163 residents assessed by Cockroft-Gault, there were 126 residents with creatinine clearance below 60ml/min (77%; 95% CI, 70-83). Seventeen residents were excluded due to intake of protein supplements or to extreme body mass index. Once the treatments were reviewed, 152/876 (17%; 95% CI, 15-20) prescriptions suitable for renal adjustment were found. In 135/152 prescriptions (89%; 95% CI, 83-93) the dosage was appropriate to creatinine clearance and 17 (11%; 95% CI, 6-17) were considered as potentially optimizable. For these 17 prescriptions, a proposal for dosage adjustment or monitoring was made, which was accepted in 16 cases and rejected in 1 case (metformin in a patient with 44ml/min creatinine clearance and poor glycemic control). CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of the institutionalized elderly have a creatinine clearance below 60ml/min. Given that a not inconsiderable proportion of their prescribed medication is susceptible to renal adjustment, the implementation of a protocol for renal adjustment and renal function follow-up could help to reduce the risk of adverse events.

Prevención de acontecimientos adversos mediante ajuste posológico renal en pacientes ancianos institucionalizados / Prevention of adverse events through renal dosage adjustment in institutionalized elders

Introducciónpresentar un protocolo de ajuste posológico renal desarrollado para reducir el riesgo de acontecimientos adversos en ancianos institucionalizados en un centro de mayores. Estimar el grado de adecuación actual a ese protocolo.Material y métodosse redactó un protocolo para identificar a los residentes con aclaramiento de creatinina<60ml/min, revisar su farmacoterapia y optimizar la posología si fuera necesario. Se evaluó su factibilidad y la adecuación de la práctica actual al protocolo mediante su aplicación transversal en la totalidad de residentes.Resultadosse identificó a 126 residentes con aclaramiento de creatinina<60ml/min entre los 163 evaluables por Cockroft-Gault (77%; intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 70–83), 17 residentes fueron excluidos por recibir suplementos proteicos o tener índices extremos de masa corporal. Revisados sus tratamientos, se localizaron 152/876 líneas de tratamiento susceptibles de ajuste posológico (17%; IC del 95%, 15–20). En 135/152 (89%; IC del 95%, 83–93) la posología era adecuada al aclaramiento de creatinina y en 17 (11%; IC del 95%, 6–17) se consideró potencialmente optimizable y se realizó la correspondiente propuesta de ajuste o monitorización, que fue aceptada en 16 ocasiones y desestimada en una (metformina en paciente con aclaramiento de 44ml/min y mal control glucémico).Conclusionesun elevado porcentaje de los ancianos institucionalizados presenta aclaramiento de creatinina<60ml/min. Dado que una parte no despreciable de su medicación es susceptible de ajuste renal, establecer un protocolo de optimización de la posología y de control de la función renal contribuirá a reducir el riesgo de efectos adversos por medicamentos en este grupo de población (AU)

IntroductionTo present a protocol based on renal dosage adjustment developed to reduce the risk of adverse events in elderly people institutionalized in a geriatric centre and to determine the degree of adaptation to this protocol.Material and methodFirst, we designed a renal adjustment protocol to identify residents with creatinine clearance below 60ml/min, review drug therapy and optimize dosage regimens, if necessary. Then, we evaluated the feasibility of this protocol and adaptation of clinical practice to this protocol through a cross-sectional study of all the residents in the centre.ResultsAmong the 163 residents assessed by Cockroft-Gault, there were 126 residents with creatinine clearance below 60ml/min (77%; 95% CI, 70–83). Seventeen residents were excluded due to intake of protein supplements or to extreme body mass index. Once the treatments were reviewed, 152/876 (17%; 95% CI, 15–20) prescriptions suitable for renal adjustment were found. In 135/152 prescriptions (89%; 95% CI, 83–93) the dosage was appropriate to creatinine clearance and 17 (11%; 95% CI, 6–17) were considered as potentially optimizable. For these 17 prescriptions, a proposal for dosage adjustment or monitoring was made, which was accepted in 16 cases and rejected in 1 case (metformin in a patient with 44ml/min creatinine clearance and poor glycemic control).ConclusionsA high percentage of the institutionalized elderly have a creatinine clearance below 60ml/min. Given that a not inconsiderable proportion of their prescribed medication is susceptible to renal adjustment, the implementation of a protocol for renal adjustment and renal function follow-up could help to reduce the risk of adverse events (AU)

[Availability of antidotes in the event of accidents or attacks with chemical weapons]. / Disponibilidad de antídotos en caso de accidentes o atentados con armas químicas.

BACKGROUND: In this report, we aimed to determine the availability of six antidotes for victims of accidents or attacks with chemical weapons. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Telephone interviews with 6 Catalan hospitals and 8 hospitals from the community of Castilla y León. We evaluated the availability of antidotes in the hypothetical event of a massive intoxication with 600 affected people. RESULTS: Only 3 out of the 14 hospitals had all 6 antidotes. Only atropine and, in Catalan hospitals, sodium thiosulfate were available in enough quantities to treat all victims. With regard to the remaining antidotes, the percentage of treated patients would have been fewer than 50%. The less available antidote was hydroxocobalamine. CONCLUSIONS: We have found both qualitative and quantitative deficiencies of antidotes for the treatment of people intoxicated by chemical weapons.

Disponibilidad de antídotos en caso de accidentes o atentados con armas químicas / Availability of antidotes in the event of accidents or attacks with chemical weapons

FUNDAMENTO: Conocer la disponibilidad hospitalaria de 6 antídotos utilizables en víctimas de accidentes o atentados con armas químicas. MATERIAL Y MÉTODO : Encuesta telefónica a 6 hospitales catalanes y 8 de la Comunidad de Castilla y León. Evaluación de la disponibilidad de antídotos en el hipotético caso de una intoxicación masiva con 600 afectados. RESULTADOS: De los 14 hospitales, únicamente tres disponían de los 6 antídotos encuestados. Sólo la atropina y, en hospitales catalanes, el tiosulfato sódico se encontraban en cantidad suficiente para tratar al 100 por ciento de las víctimas. Con el resto de los antídotos, el porcentaje de enfermos tratados habría sido inferior al 50 por ciento. El antídoto con menor disponibilidad era la hidroxocobalamina. CONCLUSIONES: En los hospitales encuestados se han constatado deficiencias antidóticas, tanto de tipo cualitativo como cuantitativo, para atender a los pacientes intoxicados con armas química. (AU)