Drug usage in newborn intensive care units.
A national survey of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) was undertaken to obtain information concerning drug usage, dosages, methods of administration, incidence of drug-induced phlebitis, and drug reference sources. Antimicrobial agents are the most frequently used drugs in NICUs. Dosages reported by NICUs generally agreed with dosage recommendations by the manufacturer and literature citations. A 10% estimate of phlebitis was the consensus report by NICUs. Calcium gluconate was implicated most often as causing phlebitis, and most NICUs reported that drugs are not mixed with hyperalimentation solutions. The Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee should review drug dosages in neonates and establish policies for intravenous drug administration methods and rates to ensure uniform initial doses and to provide a consensus among clinicians using these medications.
D003625:Data Collection; D004304:Dosage Forms; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D010689:Phlebitis / Q000139:chemically induced; D014481:United States