title: HIV Pharmacist's Impact on Inpatient Antiretroviral Errors.
abstract: Transitions in care between out-patient and in-patient settings provide ample opportunity for medication errors to occur in HIV-infected patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an HIV pharmacist monitoring service in decreasing antiretroviral medication errors in a large south central teaching hospital in the USA.
  
  
  
  A retrospective, observational study was conducted to examine the frequency of antiretroviral medication errors in HIV-seropositive patients with hospital admissions between 1 September 2011 and 30 September 2013 at a single tertiary care centre in Oklahoma. Patient assignment to the 12-month pre-intervention and intervention study periods was determined by admission date. Demographic, laboratory, and in-patient medication data were collected. Bivariate analyses were conducted using χ2analysis with the Yates correction factor for continuity to examine frequencies in specific antiretroviral classes and error categories. A multivariable Poisson regression was employed to examine the frequency of medication errors before and after initiation of the pharmacist service.
  
  
  
  Medication errors were examined in a total of 330 patient admissions during the 2-year study period. A multivariable-adjusted decrease of 73.9% in the number of errors was observed between the pre-intervention and intervention periods (P < 0.001). Patients on protease inhibitor regimens or with impaired renal function had 2.6-fold and 2.8-fold higher numbers of errors, respectively (P < 0.001).
  
  
  
  HIV pharmacist monitoring can decrease medication errors in HIV-infected patients as they transition between out-patient and in-patient care. Patients receiving protease inhibitor-based therapy or with renal insufficiency are at higher risk for medication errors upon admission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy: Clinical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA. Michelle-Liedtke@ouhsc.edu.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Liedtke
authors.affiliation: Mercy Health Physician Partners Infectious Disease, Mercy Health Saint Mary's, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Tomlin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy: Clinical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Skrepnek
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy: Clinical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Farmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy: Clinical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy: Clinical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Rathbun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors; D008875:Middle Aged; D009825:Oklahoma; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000592:standards*; D010595:Pharmacists; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
keywords: 
  HIV
  ; adult; antiretroviral; continuity of care; medication errors