ObjectivesThis study sought to identify the physical and chemical incompatibilities
among the drugs administered intravenously to patients admitted to an adult
intensive care unit. We also aimed to establish pharmaceutical guidelines
for administering incompatible drugs.MethodsThis cross-sectional, prospective, and quantitative study was conducted from
July to September 2015. Drug incompatibilities were identified based on an
analysis of the patient prescriptions available in the hospital online
management system. A pharmaceutical intervention was performed using the
guidelines on the preparation and administration of incompatible drugs.
Adherence to those guidelines was subsequently assessed among the nursing
staff.ResultsA total of 100 prescriptions were analyzed; 68 were incompatible with the
intravenous drugs prescribed. A total of 271 drug incompatibilities were
found, averaging 4.0 ± 3.3 incompatibilities per prescription. The
most commonly found drug incompatibilities were between midazolam and
hydrocortisone (8.9%), between cefepime and midazolam (5.2%), and between
hydrocortisone and vancomycin (5.2%). The drugs most commonly involved in
incompatibilities were midazolam, hydrocortisone, and vancomycin. The most
common incompatibilities occurred when a drug was administered via
continuous infusion and another was administered intermittently (50%). Of
the 68 prescriptions that led to pharmaceutical guidelines, 45 (66.2%) were
fully adhered to by the nursing staff.ConclusionPatients under intensive care were subjected to a high rate of
incompatibilities. Drug incompatibilities can be identified and eliminated
by the pharmacist on the multidisciplinary team, thereby reducing
undesirable effects among patients.