Medication errors in a children's inpatient antineoplastic chemotherapy facility.

BACKGROUND: Due to many antineoplastic drugs' toxicity and narrow therapeutic window, medication errors are a health concern in pediatric oncology patients. This study aimed to identify and classify medication errors in a pediatric inpatient chemotherapy facility and evaluate the outcomes of these medication errors. METHODS: We conducted an observational retrospective study over 5 months in a chemotherapy facility for pediatric patients. The evaluation consisted of the review of the available medical records. The medication errors detected were manually recorded in a medical logbook. The International Classification for Patient Safety was adjusted to our clinical setting for the analysis, the terminology, and the classification system. A descriptive analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 286 medical records were reviewed; one type of medication error was noted in at least 97.6%, and 962 errors were identified totally, with an overall rate of 3.36 errors per visit. Most errors occurred in the documentation stage (643; 66.8%), followed by the administration stage (227; 23.6%). Of all medication errors, 37.2% had the potential to cause injury, but only five reached the patient (0.5%), and only two (0.2%) resulted in a severe harmful incident. CONCLUSIONS: Medication errors were common, especially at the documentation stage. Better documentation strategies need to be implemented to reduce the rate of near misses and prevent potential adverse events.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los errores de medicación son un problema de salud en niños con cáncer debido a la toxicidad y a la estrecha ventana terapéutica de muchos fármacos antineoplásicos. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar y clasificar los errores de medicación en un centro de quimioterapia para pacientes pediátricos hospitalizados, así como evaluar los resultados de estos errores de medicación. MÉTODOS: Se llevó a cabo un estudio observacional retrospectivo realizado durante un periodo de 5 meses en un centro de quimioterapia para pacientes pediátricos. La evaluación consistió en la revisión de las historias clínicas disponibles. Los errores de medicación detectados fueron registrados manualmente en una bitácora. Para el análisis, la terminología y el sistema de clasificación, la Clasificación Internacional para la Seguridad del Paciente se ajustó a nuestro entorno clínico. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo. RESULTADOS: Se revisaron 286 historias clínicas; se observó un tipo de error de medicación al menos en el 97.6%. En total se identificaron 962 errores de medicación, con una tasa general de 3.36 errores por visita. En la etapa de documentación fue donde más errores ocurrieron (643; 66.8%), seguido de la etapa de administración (227; 23.6%). De todos los errores de medicación, el 37.2% tuvo el potencial de causar lesiones, pero solo cinco llegaron al paciente (0.5%) y solo dos (0.2%) provocaron un incidente dañino severo. CONCLUSIONES: Los errores de medicación fueron comunes, especialmente en la etapa de documentación. Es necesario implementar mejores estrategias de documentación para reducir la tasa de cuasi accidentes y prevenir posibles eventos adversos.

Medication errors in a children's inpatient antineoplastic chemotherapy facility / Errores de medicación en un centro de quimioterapia antineoplásica para pacientes pediátricos hospitalizados

Abstract Background: Due to many antineoplastic drugs' toxicity and narrow therapeutic window, medication errors are a health concern in pediatric oncology patients. This study aimed to identify and classify medication errors in a pediatric inpatient chemotherapy facility and evaluate the outcomes of these medication errors. Methods: We conducted an observational retrospective study over 5 months in a chemotherapy facility for pediatric patients. The evaluation consisted of the review of the available medical records. The medication errors detected were manually recorded in a medical logbook. The International Classification for Patient Safety was adjusted to our clinical setting for the analysis, the terminology, and the classification system. A descriptive analysis was performed. Results: A total of 286 medical records were reviewed; one type of medication error was noted in at least 97.6%, and 962 errors were identified totally, with an overall rate of 3.36 errors per visit. Most errors occurred in the documentation stage (643; 66.8%), followed by the administration stage (227; 23.6%). Of all medication errors, 37.2% had the potential to cause injury, but only five reached the patient (0.5%), and only two (0.2%) resulted in a severe harmful incident. Conclusions: Medication errors were common, especially at the documentation stage. Better documentation strategies need to be implemented to reduce the rate of near misses and prevent potential adverse events.

Resumen Introducción: Los errores de medicación son un problema de salud en niños con cáncer debido a la toxicidad y a la estrecha ventana terapéutica de muchos fármacos antineoplásicos. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar y clasificar los errores de medicación en un centro de quimioterapia para pacientes pediátricos hospitalizados, así como evaluar los resultados de estos errores de medicación. Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio observacional retrospectivo realizado durante un periodo de 5 meses en un centro de quimioterapia para pacientes pediátricos. La evaluación consistió en la revisión de las historias clínicas disponibles. Los errores de medicación detectados fueron registrados manualmente en una bitácora. Para el análisis, la terminología y el sistema de clasificación, la Clasificación Internacional para la Seguridad del Paciente se ajustó a nuestro entorno clínico. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo. Resultados: Se revisaron 286 historias clínicas; se observó un tipo de error de medicación al menos en el 97.6%. En total se identificaron 962 errores de medicación, con una tasa general de 3.36 errores por visita. En la etapa de documentación fue donde más errores ocurrieron (643; 66.8%), seguido de la etapa de administración (227; 23.6%). De todos los errores de medicación, el 37.2% tuvo el potencial de causar lesiones, pero solo cinco llegaron al paciente (0.5%) y solo dos (0.2%) provocaron un incidente dañino severo. Conclusiones: Los errores de medicación fueron comunes, especialmente en la etapa de documentación. Es necesario implementar mejores estrategias de documentación para reducir la tasa de cuasi accidentes y prevenir posibles eventos adversos.

Efficacy and safety of oral magnesium supplementation in reducing febrile neutropenia episodes in children with solid tumors treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy: randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: Hypomagnesemia has been associated with febrile neutropenia (FN) in pediatric patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy (CDDPBC). The primary aim was to determine whether oral magnesium supplementation reduces FN episodes in pediatric patients with solid tumors treated with CDDPBC. METHOD: This randomized clinical trial, with open-label, single-center, parallel group and superiority design was conducted in Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez at Mexico City. Children ≥ 9 years with solid tumors that were to receive a CDDPBC cycle were invited to participate. Each chemotherapy cycle with CDDPBC was randomly assigned to receive oral magnesium supplementation (250 mg/day) or not receive magnesium supplementation (control group). Efficacy was determined by relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) as well as with numbers needed to treat (NNT). Active surveillance was conducted to assess safety in both groups. Analyses were carried out by intention to treat. ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT03449693. RESULTS: One hundred and one chemotherapy cycles with CDDPBC were analyzed (50 in the magnesium supplement arm and 51 in control group). Baseline clinical characteristics were similar comparing both groups. Oral magnesium supplementation reduces FN episodes compared to control group [RR 0.53, (95% CI 0.32-0.89), NNT = 4]. In the supplemented group, patients had fewer episodes of septic shock secondary to FN [RR 0.43, (95% CI 0.02-0.94), NNT = 6] and FN appeared on average 5 days later (p = 0.031). Hypomagnesemia episodes and adverse events were similar across both groups. CONCLUSION: Oral supplementation with magnesium reduces FN episodes neutropenia in pediatric patients with solid tumors treated with CDDPBC.

A case series of cutaneous lymphomas in Mexico.

Background: Primary cutaneous lymphomas are a rare heterogeneous group of T and B cell skin neoplasms without any evidence of extracutaneous disease at the time of diagnosis, which show considerable differences in histology, phenotype and prognosis. Case reports: Five cases of cutaneous lymphomas treated at the Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez from 2010 to 2018 are described. The most frequent clinical presentations in these patients were dermatitis, blood scabs, and necrotic ulcers. The most common immunophenotype was non-Hodgkin T/NK primary nasal extranodal cutaneous lymphomas. The treatment scheme used in most patients was SMILE. The average time to diagnosis was 7 months. Conclusions: The prognosis depends on the stage of the disease at diagnosis, the degree of skin involvement, and the presence of extracutaneous disease. As primary cutaneous lymphomas are infrequent neoplasms, the stage of the disease is usually advanced and generally shows an aggressive behavior due to a late diagnosis.

Introducción: Los linfomas cutáneos primarios son un grupo heterogéneo de neoplasias de células T y B que se presentan en la piel, sin ninguna evidencia de enfermedad extracutánea en el momento del diagnóstico, y muestran diferencias considerables en histologia, fenotipo y pronóstico. Se consideran neoplasias poco frecuentes. Casos clínicos: Se presentan cinco casos de linfomas cutáneos diagnosticados en el Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez durante el periodo de 2010 a 2018. Las presentaciones clínicas más frecuentes en estos pacientes fueron dermatitis, costras hemáticas y úlceras necróticas. El inmunofenotipo más común fue el linfoma cutáneo no Hodgkin T/NK extranodal nasal primario. El esquema de tratamiento que se utilizó en la mayoría de los pacientes fue SMILE. El promedio de tiempo al diagnóstico fue de 7 meses. Conclusiones: El pronóstico depende del estadio de la enfermedad al diagnóstico, grado de afectación de la piel y presencia o ausencia de enfermedad extracutánea. Los linfomas cutáneos primarios son neoplasias poco frecuentes. Debido al diagnóstico tardío, el estadio de la enfermedad suele ser avanzado, por lo que, generalmente, el comportamiento es agresivo.

Linfomas cutáneos: serie de casos en México / A case series of cutaneous lymphomas in Mexico

Resumen Introducción: Los linfomas cutáneos primarios son un grupo heterogéneo de neoplasias de células T y B que se presentan en la piel, sin ninguna evidencia de enfermedad extracutánea en el momento del diagnóstico, y muestran diferencias considerables en histologia, fenotipo y pronóstico. Se consideran neoplasias poco frecuentes. Casos clínicos: Se presentan cinco casos de linfomas cutáneos diagnosticados en el Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez durante el periodo de 2010 a 2018. Las presentaciones clínicas más frecuentes en estos pacientes fueron dermatitis, costras hemáticas y úlceras necróticas. El inmunofenotipo más común fue el linfoma cutáneo no Hodgkin T/NK extranodal nasal primario. El esquema de tratamiento que se utilizó en la mayoría de los pacientes fue SMILE. El promedio de tiempo al diagnóstico fue de 7 meses. Conclusiones: El pronóstico depende del estadio de la enfermedad al diagnóstico, grado de afectación de la piel y presencia o ausencia de enfermedad extracutánea. Los linfomas cutáneos primarios son neoplasias poco frecuentes. Debido al diagnóstico tardío, el estadio de la enfermedad suele ser avanzado, por lo que, generalmente, el comportamiento es agresivo.

Abstract Background: Primary cutaneous lymphomas are a rare heterogeneous group of T and B cell skin neoplasms without any evidence of extracutaneous disease at the time of diagnosis, which show considerable differences in histology, phenotype and prognosis. Case reports: Five cases of cutaneous lymphomas treated at the Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez from 2010 to 2018 are described. The most frequent clinical presentations in these patients were dermatitis, blood scabs, and necrotic ulcers. The most common immunophenotype was non-Hodgkin T/NK primary nasal extranodal cutaneous lymphomas. The treatment scheme used in most patients was SMILE. The average time to diagnosis was 7 months. Conclusions: The prognosis depends on the stage of the disease at diagnosis, the degree of skin involvement, and the presence of extracutaneous disease. As primary cutaneous lymphomas are infrequent neoplasms, the stage of the disease is usually advanced and generally shows an aggressive behavior due to a late diagnosis.

A strategy for the clinical remission of acute lymphoblastic leukemia elicited by treatment of ß-thalassemia major: A case report.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has been suggested as a long-term complication in patients with ß-thalassemia major (ß-TM). A 12-months-old male patient was diagnosed with ß-TM. The patient required a blood transfusion weekly for 2 years. At the age of 4 years, a splenectomy was performed due to massive splenomegaly and frequent transfusion requirements. The histopathological analysis of the spleen revealed extensive hemosiderosis. ALL-L1 with the T immunophenotype and without central nervous system (CNS) involvement was diagnosed when the patient was 5 years old, and treated with anti-leukemic combination chemotherapy and CNS radiotherapy. The patient completed 24 months of treatment and has been in complete remission for 7 years, without long-term adverse events.

Risk Factors for Febrile Neutropenia in Children With Solid Tumors Treated With Cisplatin-based Chemotherapy.

Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a common and potentially fatal adverse drug reaction of cisplatin-based chemotherapy (CDDPBC) in pediatric patients. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the incidence and independent risk factors for FN in pediatric patients with solid tumors treated with CDPPBC. Cohort integration was performed in the first cycle of chemotherapy with CDDPBC and patients were followed up to 6 months after the last cycle. FN was defined according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Relative risks were calculated with confidence intervals at 95% (95% CI) to determine FN risk factors. Multiple logistic regression was performed to identify independent risk factors. One hundred and thirty-nine pediatric patients (median age 7.4 y, range 0.08 to 17 y) were included in the study. FN incidence was 62.5%. Independent risk factors for FN were chemotherapy regimens including anthracyclines (odds ratio [OR]=19.44 [95% CI, 5.40-70.02), hypomagnesaemia (OR=8.20 [95% CI, 1.81-37.14]), and radiotherapy (OR=6.67 [95% CI, 1.24-35.94]). It is therefore concluded that anthracyclines-containing regimens, hypomagnesaemia, and radiotherapy are independent risk factors for FN in patients receiving CDDPBC.