Naseptin and peanut oil: a survey of practitioners' awareness in the UK.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine how aware ENT practitioners are that Naseptin (Alliance), widely used in ENT practice, contains peanut oil and to what extent this is conveyed to patients.


METHODS
A questionnaire was sent out to all ENT practitioners registered with the British Association of Otolaryngologists.


RESULTS
Analysis of the data confirmed that Naseptin cream is widely used in ENT practice and showed that although most practitioners are aware that Naseptin cream contains refined peanut oil (arachis oil) (74.3 per cent of consultants and 93.6 per cent of registrars) not all ask their patients whether they are allergic to peanuts (62.6 per cent of consultants and 87.3 per cent of registrars).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that more should be done to raise awareness amongst practitioners that Naseptin cream contains peanut oil and should be avoided in patients with a peanut allergy, as recommended by national guidelines. The use of Naseptin cream when contraindicated may have medicolegal implications.
Abed
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T
ENT Department, Southend Hospital, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, UK. Tabed181@hotmail.com
Farhat
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S
Watters
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G
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009355:Neomycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D010036:Otolaryngology; D021183:Peanut Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D000074241:Peanut Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D006113:United Kingdom
D004338:Drug Combinations; C070815:Naseptin; D000074241:Peanut Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D009355:Neomycin; D002710:Chlorhexidine