The Study of Drug-Related Problems in Pediatric Inpatients Utilizing Antibiotics in Universitas Sumatera Utara Hospital Medan, Indonesia

BACKGROUND: Drug-related problems (DRPs) and errors occur frequently in general health and pediatric care due to several reasons. AIM: This study aims to determine the DRPs incidence in pediatric inpatients utilizing antibiotics in Universitas Sumatera Utara Hospital, Medan, Indonesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was carried out in May–July 2019 using a retrospective cross-sectional method and the data obtained from June to December 2018. RESULTS: In the aforementioned hospital, the medical records of patients were 575 among which 135 (23.47%) met the inclusion criteria and the males, 84 (62.22%) were higher than females. Furthermore, majority of them, 55 (40.74%) were 5–11 years old, and 86 (63.70%) had a maximum stay length of ≥5 days. There were 73 DRPs events in 37 patients, namely, 46 (63.01%) low doses, 22 (30.14%) overdoses, 2 (2.74%) side effects of drugs, and 3 (4.11%) drug interactions. The most experienced antibiotic DRPs were in cefotaxime 14 (19.17%) and the most diagnosed was in appendicitis 14 (10.37%) utilization. CONCLUSION: There were antibiotic DRPs in pediatric inpatients in Universitas Sumatera Utara Hospital, Medan.

Genome-wide association study and polygenic risk score analysis for hearing measures in children

An efficient auditory system contributes to cognitive and psychosocial development. A right ear advantage in hearing thresholds (HTs) has been described in adults and atypical patterns of left/right hearing threshold asymmetry (HTA) have been described for psychiatric and neurodevelopmental conditions. Previous genome-wide association studies (GWASs) on HT have mainly been conducted in elderly participants whose hearing is more likely to be affected by external environmental factors. Here, we investigated HT and HTA in a children population cohort (ALSPAC, n = 6,743). Better hearing was associated with better cognitive performance and higher socioeconomic status. At the group level, HTA suggested a left ear advantage (mean = -0.28 dB) that was mainly driven by females. SNP heritability for HT and HTA was 0.13 and 0.02, respectively (n = 4,989). We found a modest negative genetic correlation between HT and reading ability. GWAS for HT (n = 5,344) did not yield significant hits but polygenic risk scores for higher educational attainment (EA, ß = -1,564.72, p = .008) and schizophrenia (ß = -241.14, p = .004) were associated with lower HT, that is, better hearing. In summary, we report new data supporting associations between hearing measures and cognitive abilities at the behavioral level. Genetic analysis suggests shared biological pathways between cognitive and sensory systems and provides evidence for a positive outcome of genetic risk for schizophrenia.

Oral isotretinoin: 29 years of medical malpractice cases in the United States

BACKGROUND

Reviews of malpractice claims in the United States show trends of increasing payments with statistically higher payouts for more debilitating and permanent injuries.

OBJECTIVES

To examine lawsuits involving notable associated adverse reactions of isotretinoin.

METHODS

Court records of US legal trials from 1985 to 2014 were obtained from a major computerized database: LexisNexis. Data were compiled on the demographics of the defendant and plaintiff, litigation over adverse drug reaction, legal allegations, verdicts, and ruling decisions.

RESULTS

Seventy unique cases met inclusion criteria and were selected for review. Forty-four cases cited physicians, and 26 cited a pharmaceutical company. When data from physician and pharmaceutical company litigations were combined, individuals 17 years or younger were more likely to be granted litigation outcomes in their favor compared with adults (P = .0016). Cases alleging failure to monitor were associated with an outcome in favor of the plaintiff (P = .0379).

LIMITATIONS

Cases settled or terminated before going to court could not be reviewed.

CONCLUSIONS

Familiarity with malpractice trends through precedent-setting cases will increase physician awareness of common pitfalls, potentially mitigating litigation risk and improving patient care.

What can be learned from litigation in otology? A review of clinical negligence claims in England 2013-2018

BACKGROUND

Litigation in the National Health Service continues to rise with a 9.4 per cent increase in clinical negligence claims from the period 2018 and 2019 to the period 2019 and 2020. The cost of these claims now accounts for 1.8 per cent of the National Health Service 2019 to 2020 budget. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of clinical negligence claims in the subspecialty of otology.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective review of all clinical negligence claims in otology in England held by National Health Service Resolution between April 2013 and April 2018.

RESULTS

There were 171 claims in otology, 24 per cent of all otolaryngology claims, with a potential cost of £24.5 million. Over half of these were associated with hearing loss. Stapedectomy was the highest mean cost per claim operation at £769 438. The most common reasons for litigation were failure or delay in treatment (23 per cent), failure or delay in diagnosis (20 per cent), intra-operative complications (15 per cent) and inadequate consent (13 per cent).

CONCLUSION

There is a risk of high-cost claims in otology, especially with objective injuries such as hearing loss and facial nerve injury.

Otorhinolaryngology litigation in England: 727 clinical negligence cases against the National Health Service

INTRODUCTION

Litigation against the National Health Service (NHS) in England is rising. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and characteristics of otorhinolaryngology clinical negligence claims in England.

METHODS

A retrospective review was undertaken of all clinical negligence claims in England held by NHS Resolution relating to otorhinolaryngology between April 2013 and April 2018. Analysis was performed using information for cause, patient injury and claim cost. Where claim information was adequately detailed, the authors categorised claims by subspecialty, diagnosis and surgery.

RESULTS

A total number of 727 claims were identified with an estimated potential cost of £108 million. Out of these, 463 were closed claims. Including open claim reserves, the mean cost of a claim was £148 923. Head and neck surgery was the subspecialty with the highest number of claims (n = 313, 43%) and highest cost (£51.5 million) followed by otology (n = 171, £24.5 million) and rhinology (n = 171, £13.6 million). Over half of claims were associated with an operation (n = 429, 59%) where mastoid surgery (n = 46) and endoscopic sinus surgery (n = 46) were equally associated with the greatest number of claims. The most frequent causes for clinical negligence claims included failure or delay to diagnose (n = 178, 25%), failure or delay to treat (n = 136, 19%), intra-operative complications (n = 130, 18%) and failure of the consent process (n = 107, 15%).

DISCUSSION

Clinical negligence claims in otorhinolaryngology are related to several different components of patient management and are not limited to postoperative complications. This study highlights the importance of robust pathways in out-patient diagnostics and the consenting process in order to deliver better patient care and reduce the impact of litigation. Keywords informed consent, malpractice, clinical negligence claims, litigation, otolaryngology.

Current practice of ototoxicity management across the United Kingdom (UK)

OBJECTIVE

Effective management of patients diagnosed with ototoxicity is needed to reduce hearing and balance damage which affects communication and life quality. Despite widespread recommendations to monitor and manage ototoxicity in an early and effective manner, there is limited evidence to support the actual implementation of these recommendations for affected patient groups in healthcare services across the UK with limited publications available. In this study, an online questionnaire analysed the current practice of ototoxicity management and patient pathways across the UK once the diagnosis of ototoxicity was confirmed, targeting Audiologists, ENTs/AVPs and GPs.

DESIGN

Qualitative Survey Study.

STUDY SAMPLE

A randomised sample of hearing services in the UK, including audiology departments; GP practices and local health settings were targeted with a total of 134 completed surveys.

RESULTS

About 72% reported the absence of ototoxicity management protocols within their centre. Results depicted great inconsistency and variation across the UK in ototoxicity management services provided, treatment modification, monitoring and referral pathways.

CONCLUSION

Developing and advocating national guidelines are intended not only to inform clinical decision making but to provide minimum standards of care in ototoxicity management and offer greater awareness and education to improve patients' quality of life.

Otoacoustic emissions in children treated with gentamicin in a secondary hospital

INTRODUCTION

The National Commission for the Early Detection of Hearing Loss (CODEPEH) recommends the re-evaluation of hearing in children who have suffered any potentially harmful event, such as the prescription of ototoxic antibiotics such as gentamicin. The evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE) are a good method for assessing the integrity of cochlear functionality.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A prospective study is presented, including 92 children who were treated with intravenous gentamicin for septic risk/sepsis or urinary tract infection. The children underwent serial EOAE: on admission, at the end of treatment and one month later (if altered on discharge).

RESULTS

In the end, none of the subjects were affected by the treatment.

CONCLUSION

Gentamicin appears to be a safe antibiotic in treatments lasting <10days and at the doses described. EOAE are an inexpensive, fast, non-invasive and reliable method to check for gentamicin ototoxicity. This could save in the determination of drug levels.

Trends in medical malpractice claims in patients with cleft or craniofacial abnormalities in the United States

OBJECTIVE

To describe medical malpractice trends in patients with cleft and/or craniofacial abnormalities.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A modified Delphi approach was used to gather search terms. Search settings included "all jury verdicts and settlements", with jurisdiction of "all states" and "all federal courts" (by court and circuit). A retrospective review of WestLawNext legal database was conducted. Cases were excluded if they did not have a direct association from the patient's craniofacial anomaly or if they were not related to malpractice.

RESULTS

Forty-two cases met inclusion criteria. Cases closed between 1981 and 2014 were included. The mean payment among claims with an indemnity payment was $3.9 million. Of cases brought to trial, 62% were in favor of the plaintiff. Amongst physicians named as co-defendants, pediatricians were most commonly named (24%), followed by plastic surgeons (16%), obstetricians (7.8%), and radiologists (7.8%). "Missed diagnosis" was the most common type of negligent claim (45%), followed by "surgical error" (21%), and "medication error" (17%). "Anoxic brain injury" resulted in the highest median indemnity payment for complication of patient management ($3.5 million), followed by "wrongful birth" ($1.03 million), and "minor physical injury" ($520,000). No specific type of negligent claim (p = 0.764) nor complication of patient management (p = 0.61) was associated with a greater indemnity payment. Mean indemnity payment was $920,000 prior to 2001 and $4.4 million after 2001 (p = 0.058).

CONCLUSIONS

Mean indemnity payments were fourteen-fold greater in patients as compared to those in the overall population ($3.9 million versus $274,887) and seven-fold greater than those in the average pediatric population ($3.9 million versus $520,923). All healthcare providers should be aware of the associated medical malpractice claims that may be incurred when treating patients at risk for these conditions.

Knowledge of healthcare professionals about medication errors in hospitals

CONTEXT

Medication errors are the most common types of medical errors in hospitals and leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients.

AIMS

The aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge of healthcare professionals about medication errors in hospitals.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to randomly selected healthcare professionals in eight hospitals in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

An 18-item survey was designed and comprised questions on demographic data, knowledge of medication errors, availability of reporting systems in hospitals, attitudes toward error reporting, causes of medication errors.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Data were analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software Version 17.

RESULTS

A total of 323 of healthcare professionals completed the questionnaire with 64.6% response rate of 138 (42.72%) physicians, 34 (10.53%) pharmacists, and 151 (46.75%) nurses. A majority of the participants had a good knowledge about medication errors concept and their dangers on patients. Only 68.7% of them were aware of reporting systems in hospitals. Healthcare professionals revealed that there was no clear mechanism available for reporting of errors in most hospitals. Prescribing (46.5%) and administration (29%) errors were the main causes of errors. The most frequently encountered medication errors were anti-hypertensives, antidiabetics, antibiotics, digoxin, and insulin.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed differences in the awareness among healthcare professionals toward medication errors in hospitals. The poor knowledge about medication errors emphasized the urgent necessity to adopt appropriate measures to raise awareness about medication errors in Saudi hospitals.