Insulin Instability in Parenteral Nutrition Admixtures

Use of Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) as a Vehicle for Drug Delivery

Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) is a method of providing nutrients directly into the bloodstream for individuals who are unable to meet their nutritional needs through the normal digestive process or gastrointestinal system. It provides macronutrients and micronutrients in a single container, reducing handling and contamination risks and making it more cost-effective. TPN has the potential to be used as a drug delivery system, with applications in combination therapies, personalized medicine, and integrating advanced technologies. It can enhance drug dosage precision and provide nutritional assistance, potentially reducing hospitalization and improving patient outcomes. However, implementing new applications requires thorough testing and regulatory approval. TPN could be particularly useful in pediatric and geriatric care and could also contribute to global health by combating malnutrition in areas with limited medical resources. Healthcare professionals prepare a sterile solution tailored to each patient's nutritional needs, and administration involves a central venous catheter. However, the simultaneous administration of medications with PN admixtures can result in pharmacological incompatibility, which can impact the stability of the oil-in-water system. The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism and the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition recommendations advise against including non-nutrient drugs in PN admixtures due to safety concerns. This review focuses on the utilization of Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) as a method for delivering drugs. It discusses the benefits and difficulties associated with its commercial application and offers suggestions for future research endeavors.

Finding the sweet spot: Managing parenteral nutrition-related glycemic complications in hospitalized adults

Parenteral nutrition (PN) remains an important aspect of treating hospitalized adult patients who are otherwise unable to achieve adequate nutrition intake. PN is highly individualized and requires careful adjustment of macronutrients and micronutrients to minimize complications. One frequent complication associated with PN involves blood glucose (BG) derangements including both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. PN-related glycemic complications are complex and multifactorial. Close BG monitoring is required for selecting and evaluating therapeutic interventions. BG goals for patients treated with PN may vary depending on patient-specific characteristics. Since dextrose provides the carbohydrate source in PN prescriptions, hyperglycemia may be expected, but nondextrose causes must also be considered. Insulin is a mainstay of therapy for managing glycemic complications related to PN, and the regimen chosen depends on patient-specific factors. However, insulin therapy also places the patient at an increased risk of hypoglycemia. Similarly, insulin is not the sole cause of hypoglycemia in these patients. The aim of this review is to describe the factors associated with dysglycemia during PN therapy and provide recommendations for minimizing and managing these complications, which is paramount to providing high-quality patient care and improving clinical outcomes.

ESPEN guideline on chronic intestinal failure in adults - Update 2023

BACKGROUND & AIMS

In 2016, ESPEN published the guideline for Chronic Intestinal Failure (CIF) in adults. An updated version of ESPEN guidelines on CIF due to benign disease in adults was devised in order to incorporate new evidence since the publication of the previous ESPEN guidelines.

METHODS

The grading system of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) was used to grade the literature. Recommendations were graded according to the levels of evidence available as A (strong), B (conditional), 0 (weak) and Good practice points (GPP). The recommendations of the 2016 guideline (graded using the GRADE system) which were still valid, because no studies supporting an update were retrieved, were reworded and re-graded accordingly.

RESULTS

The recommendations of the 2016 guideline were reviewed, particularly focusing on definitions, and new chapters were included to devise recommendations on IF centers, chronic enterocutaneous fistulas, costs of IF, caring for CIF patients during pregnancy, transition of patients from pediatric to adult centers. The new guideline consist of 149 recommendations and 16 statements which were voted for consensus by ESPEN members, online in July 2022 and at conference during the annual Congress in September 2022. The Grade of recommendation is GPP for 96 (64.4%) of the recommendations, 0 for 29 (19.5%), B for 19 (12.7%), and A for only five (3.4%). The grade of consensus is "strong consensus" for 148 (99.3%) and "consensus" for one (0.7%) recommendation. The grade of consensus for the statements is "strong consensus" for 14 (87.5%) and "consensus" for two (12.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

It is confirmed that CIF management requires complex technologies, multidisciplinary and multiprofessional activity, and expertise to care for the underlying gastrointestinal disease and to provide HPN support. Most of the recommendations were graded as GPP, but almost all received a strong consensus.

Efficacy and safety of different insulin infusion methods in the treatment of total parenteral nutrition-associated hyperglycemia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Aims

To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of different insulin infusion methods in the treatment of total parenteral nutrition (TPN)-associated hyperglycemia based on published literature and the data of completed clinical trials using a network meta-analysis.

Methods

A comprehensive search of PubMed, Elsevier, Web of Science, EMBASE, Medline, clinicaltrials.gov, Cochrane Library, and three Chinese databases (Wanfang Data, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and SINOMED) up to December 15, 2022, was performed to collect information on different insulin infusion methods used for the treatment of TPN-associated hyperglycemia, and the Cochrane systematic review method was used to screen the literature, evaluate the quality of the included literature, and extract clinical characteristics for a network meta-analysis. Clinical outcomes included mean blood glucose (MBG), hypoglycemia, hospital length of stay, hyperglycemia, surgical site infection (SSI) and mean total daily insulin.

Results

A total of 21 articles, including 1,459 patients, were included to analyze 6 different routes of insulin infusion, including continuous intravenous insulin infusion (CVII), continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), subcutaneous glargine insulin (s.c. GI), the addition of regular insulin to the PN mixture (RI-in-PN), multiple subcutaneous insulin injections (MSII) and 50% of insulin administered as RI-in-PN + 50% of insulin administered as s.c. GI (50% RI-in-PN + 50% s.c. GI). The results of the network meta-analysis showed that MSII was the least effective in terms of MBG, followed by CVII. The 6 interventions were basically equivalent in terms of the hypoglycemia incidence. In terms of the length of hospital stay, patients in the CVII group had the shortest hospital stay, while the MSII group had the longest. CVII was the best intervention in reducing the incidence of hyperglycemia. The incidence of SSI was the lowest in the CSII and CVII groups, and the mean daily insulin dosage was the lowest in the CVII group.

Conclusion

Current literature shows that for the treatment of TPN-associated hyperglycemia, CVII is the most effective, reducing the incidence of hyperglycemia and shortening the length of hospital stay without increasing the incidence of hypoglycemia. MSII has the worst efficacy, leading to a higher MBG and longer hospital stay, and RI-in-PN, CSII, s.c. GI and 50% RI-in-PN + 50% s.c. GI are better in terms of efficacy and safety and can be substituted for each other.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023439290.

Stability and compatibility of parenteral nutrition solutions; a review of influencing factors

Both stability and compatibility of parenteral nutrition solutions (PNS) with drug products are major concerns for clinicians and clinical pharmacists, especially when concurrent administration of PNS with intravenous medications (IVM) is unavoidable. Since the same physicochemical principles apply to both adult's and paediatrics' PNS, concerns about stability and compatibility may still apply to both. However, these concerns are relatively more common in paediatrics and neonatal clinical settings, where limited vascular access can be problematic and the coadministration of PNS and drugs is more common. In neonatal and paediatric populations, there have been few experimental studies and comprehensive evaluations looking at medication compatibility with frequently used PNS. This work is part of a larger research project concerned for compatibility of PNS with commonly used intravenous medication in paediatric and neonates. This paper captures and reviews published data on factors influencing stability and compatibility of parenteral nutrition solutions. This information will help clinicians and clinical pharmacists to understand the principals of the stability and compatibility of PNS, furthermore, it will inform better design of future compatibility studies, as it highlights the complexity of PNS and the multiple factors influencing the stability of PNS, and hence its compatibility with IVM. When preparing, prescribing, and administering the PNS, especially when co-administration with IVM is unavoidable, it is important to take into account the physicochemical properties of the PNS components and IVM as well as administration conditions and environmental factors. These factors should also be considered in the design of the compatibility studies of the PNS with the IVM.

Management of Hyperglycemia in Hospitalized Patients Receiving Parenteral Nutrition

Almost half of inpatients on parenteral nutrition experience hyperglycemia, which increases the risk of complications and mortality. The blood glucose target for hospitalized patients on parenteral nutrition is 7.8 to 10.0 mmol/L (140 to 180 mg/dL). For patients with diabetes, the same parenteral nutrition formulae as for patients without diabetes can be used, as long as blood glucose levels can be adequately controlled using insulin. Insulin can be delivered via the subcutaneous or intravenous route or, alternatively, added to parenteral nutrition admixtures. Combining parenteral with enteral and oral nutrition can improve glycemic control in patients with sufficient endogenous insulin stores. Intravenous insulin infusion is the preferred route of insulin delivery in critical care as doses can be rapidly adjusted to altered requirements. For stable patients, insulin can be added directly to the parenteral nutrition bag. If parenteral nutrition is infused continuously over 24 hours, the subcutaneous injection of a long-acting insulin combined with correctional bolus insulin may be adequate. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the management of parenteral nutrition-associated hyperglycemia in inpatients with diabetes.

Stability of 1-unit/mL insulin aspart solution in cyclic olefin copolymer vials and polypropylene syringes

DISCLAIMER

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time.

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the stability of diluted insulin aspart solutions (containing insulin aspart and preservatives) at their most commonly used concentration in intensive care units (1 unit/mL), in 2 container types: cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) vials and polypropylene (PP) syringes.

METHODS

Insulin aspart solution (1 unit/mL, diluted in 0.9% sodium chloride injection) was stored for 365 days in COC vials with gray stoppers and PP syringes at refrigerated (5±3°C) and ambient temperatures (25°C ± 2°C at 60% ± 5% relative humidity and protected from light). Chemical testing was conducted monthly using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method (quantification of insulin aspart, phenol, and metacresol). Physical stability was evaluated monthly via pH measurements, visible and subvisible particle counts, and osmolality measurements. Sterility testing was also performed to validate the sterile preparation process and the maintenance of sterility throughout the study.

RESULTS

The limit of stability was set at 90% of the initial concentrations of insulin aspart, phenol, and metacresol. The physicochemical stability of 1-unit/mL insulin solutions stored refrigerated and protected from light, was unchanged in COC vials for the 365-day period and for 1 month in PP syringes. At ambient temperature, subvisible particulate contamination as well as the chemical stability of insulin and metacresol were acceptable for only 1 month's storage in PP syringes, while insulin chemical stability was maintained for only 3 months' storage in COC vials.

CONCLUSION

According to our results, it is not recommended to administer 1-unit/mL pharmacy-diluted insulin solutions after 3 months' storage in COC vials at ambient temperature or after 1 month in PP syringes at ambient temperature. The findings support storage of 1-unit/mL insulin aspart solution in COC vials at refrigerated temperature as the best option over the long term. Sterility was maintained in every condition. Both sterility and physicochemical stability are essential to authorize the administration of a parenteral insulin solution.

Roles and competencies in the nutritional domain for the management of the metabolic diseases and in the hospital setting: A position paper of the Italian College of Academic Nutritionists, MED-49 (ICAN-49)

Epidemiological evidence has confirmed the potential causal relationship between specific dietary factors and non-communicable diseases. However, currently nutrition was shown to be insufficiently integrated into medical education, regardless of the country. Without an adequate nutrition education, it is reasonable to assume that future physicians, as well as other health care professionals, will be not able to provide the highest quality care to patients in preventing and treating non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, the insufficient availability of physicians with specializations in nutrition has posed the basis for the development of non-medical careers in the field of nutrition. The present document was drafting by the Italian College of Academic Nutritionists, MED-49 (ICAN-49), with the aim to provide an overview on the nutritional competency standards covered by several health care professionals (Physicians Clinical Nutrition Specialists, Clinical Dietitians, Professional Clinical Nutrition Specialists, etc) for the prevention of diseases and/or support of pharmacological therapies. The aim of the ICAN 49 is to suggest a major shift in practice opportunities and roles for many nutritionists, especially for the management of the metabolic diseases, and promote a paradigm change: a clinical and educational leadership role for Physician Clinical Nutrition Specialists in the hospital setting.

Addition of Regular Insulin to Ternary Parenteral Nutrition: A Stability Study

Background: Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a complex medium in which added insulin can become unstable. The aim of this study is, therefore, to evaluate the stability of insulin in PN and to identify influencing factors. Methods: A total of 20 IU/L of regular insulin was added to PN in either glass or Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) containers. A 24 h stability study was performed via an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in different media: A ternary PN admixture, separate compartments of the PN bag and a binary admixture. This study was repeated in the absence of zinc, with the addition of serum albumin or tween and with pH adjustment (3.6 or 6.3). Insulin concentration at t time was expressed as a percentage of the initial insulin concentration. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was applied to determine the factors that influence insulin stability. Results: In all PN admixtures, the insulin concentration ratio decreased, stabilising at a 60% and then plateauing after 6 h. At pH 3.6, the ratio was above 90%, while at pH 6.3 it decreased, except in the amino acid solution. ANCOVA (r² = 0.68, p = 0.01) identified dextrose and pH as significant factors influencing insulin stability. Conclusion: A low pH level seems to stabilise insulin in PN admixtures. The influence of dextrose content suggests that insulin glycation may influence stability.

[Measurement of insulin in multilayer bags for parenteral nutrition]

Introduction

Introduction: it is common to add rapid-acting insulin to parenteral nutrition (NP) bags for the management of hyperglycemia. However, insulin can be adsorbed in NP bags due to electrostatic interactions. Objective: to determine the influence of the presence of lipids and of insulin concentration in NP bags on the adsorption of insulin in these bags, as well as its stability for 5 days. Method: seven NP bags were prepared with the same volume and with a similar composition except for the presence of lipids and micronutrients, and insulin concentration. Insulin was determined by electrochemiluminescent immunoassay. Samples of 2 mL were taken after preparation and on day 5. Results: on day 1, the mean loss of insulin was 15.26 % (± 7.08) in the bags with lipids and 18.45 % (± 5.67) (p = 0.60) in the bags without lipids. The percentage of insulin lost by day 5 in the PN bags with lipids was 30.13 % (± 4.14), and in the PN bags without lipids it was 44.71 % (± 12.94) (p = 0,052). No correlation was observed between the amount of insulin added to the PN bags and the percentage of insulin lost between day 1 (ρ = -0.407, p = 0.365) or day 5 (ρ = -0.295, p = 0.521). Conclusions: there is an increase in insulin adsorption in NP EVA bags over time. The presence of lipids in the bags decreases adsorption. Further studies are needed to demonstrate the factors associated with insulin adsorption in EVA bags.

Management of Glucose Control in Noncritically Ill, Hospitalized Patients Receiving Parenteral and/or Enteral Nutrition: A Systematic Review

Hyperglycemia is a common occurrence in hospitalized patients receiving parenteral and/or enteral nutrition. Although there are several approaches to manage hyperglycemia, there is no consensus on the best practice. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central, and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify records (published or registered between April 1999 and April 2019) investigating strategies to manage glucose control in adults receiving parenteral and/or enteral nutrition whilst hospitalized in noncritical care units. A total of 15 completed studies comprising 1170 patients were identified, of which 11 were clinical trials and four observational studies. Diabetes management strategies entailed adaptations of nutritional regimens in four studies, while the remainder assessed different insulin regimens and administration routes. Diabetes-specific nutritional regimens that reduced glycemic excursions, as well as algorithm-driven insulin delivery approaches that allowed for flexible glucose-responsive insulin dosing, were both effective in improving glycemic control. However, the assessed studies were, in general, of limited quality, and we see a clear need for future rigorous studies to establish standards of care for patients with hyperglycemia receiving nutrition support.

Significant Published Articles for Pharmacy Nutrition Support Practice in 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to assist the pharmacist engaged in nutrition support therapy in staying current with pertinent literature. Methods: Several clinical pharmacists engaged in nutrition support therapy compiled a list of articles published in 2018 considered important to their clinical practice. The citation list was compiled into a single spreadsheet where the author participants were asked to assess whether the article was considered important to nutrition support pharmacy practice. A culled list of publications was then identified whereby the majority of author participants (at least 5 of 8) considered the paper to be important. Guideline and consensus papers from professional organizations, important to practice but not scored, were also included. Results: A total of 117 articles were identified; 8 from the primary literature were voted by the group to be of high importance. An additional 13 organizational guidelines, position, recommendation, or consensus papers were also identified. The top-ranked articles from the primary literature were reviewed. Conclusion: We recommend that pharmacists engaged in nutrition support therapy be familiar with these articles as it pertains to their practice.

The addition of insulin to home parenteral nutrition for the control of hyperglycaemia: A case series

There is little data on the safety or efficacy of insulin added to parenteral nutrition in the homecare setting. We report the use of this route of insulin administration in a series of 4 patients spanning 39 patient years in which it appeared effective, safe and well tolerated.