Drugs and adverse drug reactions: how worried should we be?

Article Abstract:

Monitoring adverse drug reactions in patients will allow physicians and pharmaceutical manufacturers to develop safer drugs and ways of preventing reactions to existing drugs. A 1998 study found that about 7% of the hospital patients studied had at least one adverse drug reaction. The study may have overestimated the number of drug reactions, but the rate would still be higher than previously thought. Hospitals do not have an incentive to collect and report these reactions, but proposed legislation may force them to do so. Computerized systems can make the task less daunting.

Editorial, Drugs, Laws, regulations and rules, Complications and side effects, Adverse drug reactions, Patient monitoring, Physiologic monitoring

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The costs of adverse drug events in hospitalized patients

Article Abstract:

Adverse drug reactions may substantially increase the cost of care for hospitalized patients. Over a 6-month period, 190 patients at two teaching hospitals experienced adverse drug events (ADEs). Sixty of those reactions were avoidable. Compared with similar patients not experiencing an ADE, experiencing an ADE increased the length of hospital stay by an average of two extra days and costs by $2,600. Preventable ADEs increased hospital stay by 4.5 days and increased costs by $4,700. Costs do not include costs of injuries to patients or malpractice costs.

Analysis, Demographic aspects, Medical care, Cost of, Health care costs, Medication errors, Drug allergy, Drug hypersensitivity

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Safety of patients isolated for infection control

Article Abstract:

Hospital patients who are put in isolation to prevent their infection from spreading to other patients may experience more adverse events, be less satisfied with their care, and receive fewer visits by doctors. In a study of 450 hospital patients at two large hospitals, those who were isolated were twice as likely to have an adverse event, and most of these adverse events were preventable. They were less likely to receive some types of care, less likely to see a doctor every day, and more likely to complain about their treatment.

Psychological aspects, Methods, Patient satisfaction, Isolation (Hospital care), Patient isolation, Infection control

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