Community pharmacists in Lagos had poor knowledge about pharmacovigilance. Reporting rate was also poor. There is an urgent need for educational programs to train pharmacists about pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting.

Introduction: Among opportunistic pathogens associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), Mycobacterium tuberculosis is distinguished by its relative virulence and potential for person-to-person transmission. Oxidative stress is associated with TB infection with a high level in patients with HIV-TB co-infection. However, the comparative level of oxidative stress in HIV patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and naïve (untreated) HIV patients is not clear. Methodology: This study is aimed to determine the level of oxidative stress and haematological parameters in HIV patients (naïve), HIV patients undergoing HAART, and HIV-TB co-infected patients. In total, 100 consenting subjects were recruited from the AIDS Prevention Iniative in Nigeria (APIN) Clinic. For controls, normal male healthy volunteers were recruited from the blood donor clinic and females from the APIN clinic staff members, both of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Measurements of antioxidant enzyme activity and lipid peroxidation were performed according to standard procedures. Haematological parameters were determined using a fully automated hematology analyzer. Results: Red blood cells significantly decreased (P≤0.001) in all patients when compared with control subjects. The lipid peroxidation (MDA) was significantly high (P≤0.05) in naive patients when compared to HIV patients on HAART. The decrease in the levels of GSH in both naive and HIV-TB co-infected patients (P≤0.001) and HIV patients on HAART (P<0.05) were significant when compared to control patients. Conclusion: There is lower antioxidant level and higher MDA in naive and HIV-TB co-infected patients as compared to HIV patients on HAART and the seronegative patients.

OBJECTIVE: There is paucity of data on paediatric medicine administration error (MAE) in developing countries. This study aimed to investigate the experience of MAEs among paediatric nurses working in public hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria. DESIGN: A confidential, self-reporting questionnaire was the instrument for the study SETTING: Public hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria with established paediatric services and departments. PARTICIPANTS: Paediatric nurses. METHODS: The questionnaire was administered to 75 nurses working in public hospitals in Lagos to obtain information on the experience of medication errors during their entire career, as well as to know their views on the nature of MAEs and the contributing factors. RESULTS: Fifty nurses responded to give a response rate of 66.7%. All the participants were females with a mean ± s.d age of 35.3 ± 10.7 years. Thirty two (64%) had committed at least one medication error over the course of their career. Wrong dose error (24; 48%) and wrong timing of medicine administration (20; 40%) were the MAEs frequently committed by the participants. The consequences of the errors included shock (23; 46%), restlessness (21; 42%), disorientation (11; 22%), and respiratory depression (10; 20%). Increased workload (26; 52%) and not double checking medicine doses (12; 24%) were the major factors the nurses perceived to be contributing to MAEs. Only 15(30%) nurses had reported MAEs to their superiors. Fear of intimidation, retribution or being punished (11; 22%) and lack of policies in place to report errors (13; 26%) were the two major barriers to reporting MAEs. Half (50%) of the nurses indicated that policies were available in their work places to prevent medication errors. CONCLUSIONS: Medication administration errors were frequently committed by the participants and resulted in some inconsequential effects, morbidity and deaths. Appropriate measures should be implemented to prevent future occurrences of MAEs.

The prevalence of medication errors is high among health care professionals in Nigeria. Knowledge gaps and practice deficiencies were identified requiring interventions.

BackgroundThe use of herbal medicines is on the increase globally and they are usually supplied in pharmacies as non-prescription medicines. Pharmacists are, therefore, responsible for educating and informing the consumers about rational use of herbal medicines.ObjectiveTo evaluate the knowledge of pharmacists in Lagos, Nigeria with regards to the herbal medicines they supplied by their pharmacies.MethodsPharmacists in charge of randomly selected 140 community pharmacies from 20 Local Government Areas in Lagos were required to fill out a self-administered questionnaire. We gathered information on their knowledge of the indications, adverse effects, potential drug-herb interactions and contraindications of the herbal medicines they supply in their pharmacies.ResultsOf the 140 questionnaires distributed, 103 (72.9%) participants completed the questionnaire appropriately. The majority (74; 71.8%) of the participants were males and 36-50 years (56; 54.4%). The pharmacies supplied mostly Yoyo cleanser bitters® (101; 98.5%), ginseng (97; 98.5%), Jobelyn® (91; 88.3%), Ciklavit® (68; 66.6%), gingko (66; 64.1%), herbal tea (66; 64.1%), and Aloe vera (57; 55.3%). The pharmacists self-rated their knowledge of herbal medicines mostly as fair (39%) and good (42%), but they exhibited poor knowledge with regards to the indications, contraindications and safety profiles. Seventy participants consulted reference materials such as leaflet insert in the herbal medicines (56%) and internet (20%) before supplying herbal medicines. The information most frequently sought was herb-drug interactions (85%), contraindications (75%) and adverse effects (70%).ConclusionsCommunity pharmacists need to be informed about the indications and safety profiles of herbal medicines.