Preventing Risks of Infections and Medication Errors in IV therapy (PRIME): a patient safety initiative.

BACKGROUND: Two major avoidable reasons for adverse events in hospital are medication errors and intravenous therapy-induced infections or complications. Training for clinical staff and compliance to patient safety principles could address these. METHODS: Joint Commission International (JCI) consultants created a standardised, 6-month training programme for clinical staff in hospitals. Twenty-one tertiary care hospitals from across south-east Asia took part. JCI trained the clinical consultants, who trained hospital safety champions, who trained nursing staff. Compliance and knowledge were assessed, and monthly audits were conducted. RESULTS: There was an overall increase of 29% in compliance with parameters around medication preparation and vascular access device management. CONCLUSION: The programme improved safe practice around preparing medications management and managing vascular access devices. The approach could be employed as a continuous quality improvement initiative for the prevention of medication errors and infusion-associated complications.

Forum for Injection Technique 2.0 Addendum 1: Insulin use in indoor settings.

Insulin is a frequently used drug in the indoor setting. Comprehensive recommendations for best practice in insulin injection technique have been published by the forum for injection technique (FIT), India. This addendum focuses on insulin use in indoor settings, and complements the FIT 2.0 recommendations. It discusses insulin use and disposal in critical care and noncritical care settings. It also highlights the need to ensure continuing nursing and medical education, and frame insulin policies for such use.