title: Effect of unit dose packaging of respiratory therapy medications on incidence of pulmonary infections.
abstract: The effect on pulmonary infection rate of using respiratory therapy medications packaged in unit dose syringes versus multiple-dose vials was studied. Study data were collected on 141 patients during a three-month period; 78 patients were treated with respiratory medications packaged exclusively in unit dose syringes, and the balance received medications from multiple-dose vials. Based on information collected from patient charts, the presence of definite or probable pulmonary infections was determined. Of the 83 patients who did not have pulmonary infections prior to therapy, 23% developed one; there was no significant difference in the incidence of infection according to type of medication packaging. Nor did packaging have a significant effect on the incidence of infection among the 39 patients who were predisposed to infection. Finally, method of packaging had no significant effect among the 58 patients who had an infection before therapy started. It is suggested that the decision to employ unit dose packaging for respiratory therapy medications must be based on factors other than the incidence of infection.
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004340:Drug Contamination; D006801:Humans; D007384:Intermittent Positive-Pressure Breathing; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011786:Quality Control; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013594:Syringes
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations