Hematopoietic cell transplantation in pediatric patients with acute leukemias or myelodysplastic syndrome using unrelated adult or umbilical cord blood donors in Brazil.

The choice of alternative donors for HCT for patients without an HLA-matched related donor depends on several factors. We compared major HCT outcomes in 212 consecutive children transplanted at 11 centers in Brazil for acute leukemia or MDS from an HLA-matched unrelated donor (MUD, n = 95), mismatched unrelated donor (MMUD, n = 47) or unrelated umbilical cord blood (UCB, n = 70). Most had ALL (61%), bone marrow (57%) as the graft source and 95% received a MAC regimen. The 3-year OS probability were 57, 55, and 37% after HCT from MUD, MMUD, and UCB, respectively (HR 1.68, 95%CI 1.07-2.63; P = .02). In comparison with MUD, OS was similar after transplantation of a ≥ 6/8 HLA-matched or a high cell dose (>5 × 107 TNC/kg) CB unit (HR 1.41, 95%CI 0.88-2.27; P = .15). NRM was higher for UCB (HR 3.90, 95%CI 1.43-10.7; P = .01) but not for MMUD (HR 1.03, 95%CI 0.53-2.00; P > .20). Advanced disease (HR 2.05, 95%CI 1.26-3.33; P < .001) and UCB with high probability of being < 6/8 HLA-matched (HR 5.34, 95%CI 2.0-13.9; P < .001) were associated with higher mortality. Relapse and acute GVHD were similar among groups, while PGF was higher among UCB transplants (P = .002) and chronic GVHD among MMUD group (HR 2.88, 95% CI 1.05-7.88; P = .04). Our results suggest that in Brazil HCT outcomes performed with MMUD and MUD donors were comparable, while with UCB units < 6/8 HLA-matched were associated with higher NRM for children with acute leukemia or MDS.

Medication Errors in the Context of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: There have been numerous efforts by health institutions and professionals to prevent and reduce medication errors. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify in the literature the incidence, related factors, consequences, and prevention mechanisms of medication errors in the context of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. METHODS: This is a systematic review carried out in the databases LILACS, PubMed, PMC, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases, from January 11 to 13, 2017. RESULTS: Eleven studies were included in this review and presented in 4 categories of analysis. (1) occurrence-most of the medication errors were related to administration and prescription; (2) related factors-multicausal, highlighting issues including polypharmacy, lack of double checking, and similarity between the medications' names; (3) consequences-the main ones were associated with adverse reactions, with prolonged hospitalization time as outcome; (4) preventive measures-related to safe practices in pharmacotherapy, such as double check and application of the 10 rights of medication administration. CONCLUSION: Medication administration is an activity of great responsibility for nursing; however, in order to achieve a decrease in medication errors, prevention strategies are necessary for the whole health team. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Practice improvements are needed including establishing institutional drug administration protocols and keeping them updated, using a computerized prescription system, and promoting patient safety with staff.