PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Samuel Limat

Publications and source records attributed to Samuel Limat.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

[Prevention of preparation errors of cytotoxic drugs in centralized units: from epidemiology to quality assurance].

The centralized preparation of cytotoxic drugs is supposed to help preventing medication errors. Nevertheless, the residual risk of preparation errors has been demonstrated. Above all, prevention is based on the quality assurance policy. Following a previous work, this study valuates the effectiveness of a quality assurance policy and the impact of corrective actions. The study compares the rates of preparation errors observed before and after the corrective actions. The risk factors have also been studied. The study included 84,017 consecutive preparations. The results showed a significant reduction of overall (0.2% versus 0.4%) and major (0.1% versus 0.2%) errors between the two periods. This period impact has been validated by a multivariate analysis (OR were respectively 0.49 and 0.6, p < 10(-3)). The daily workload (> 60 preparations) appeared to be the most important risk factor (OR were respectively 2.4 and 3.2, p < or = 10(-3)). These results demonstrated the effectiveness of simple corrective actions. The follow-up on preparation errors appeared to be useful to raise technicians' awareness and to motivate them. An epidemiological approach allows to identify risk factors, and to definite relevant corrective actions.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2003

Antidepressant response and fluvoxamine plasma concentrations: a pilot study.

The objective of this pilot study was to examine the relation between fluvoxamine (FVX) plasma concentrations, therapeutic response and side effects during a four-week treatment period. Twenty-two patients who met the DSM-IV criteria for major depression received 100 mg FVX during the first 2 days of treatment and then 150 or 200 mg/day. No clear relationship between plasma concentrations and side effects was detectable. A relationship between plasma concentrations and clinical efficacy was detectable after 21 days but not after 28 days of treatment. These preliminary results indicate that therapeutic drug monitoring might be useful for patients treated with FVX.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Observational study of potential risk factors of medication administration errors.

OBJECTIVE: Medication administration errors (MAEs) are the second most frequent type of medication errors, as has been shown in different studies in the literature. The aims of this observational study were to assess the rate and the potential clinical significance of MAEs and to determine the associated risk factors. DESIGN: In two departments, Geriatric Unit (GU) and Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery Unit (CTSU) of Besançon University Hospital (France), MAEs were identified using the undisguised observation technique and classified according to the definitions of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Injectable administration, lack of nurses's standardized protocol for the preparation and administration of drugs, incomplete or illegible prescription and nurse's workload were analysed as potential risk factors of MAEs in multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: During a period of 20 days, opportunities for error concerning 56 patients and 78 MAEs (58 in CTSU and 26 in GU) were observed. The medication administration error rate was 14.9%. Dose errors were the most frequent (41%) errors, followed by wrong time (26%) and wrong rate errors (1996). No potential fatal errors were observed, 8 (10%) were estimated as potentially life-threatening, 20 (26%) potentially significant and 50 (64%) potentially minor. Nurse workload and incomplete or illegible prescriptions were two independent risk factors of MAEs. CONCLUSION: According to these data, the quality of the medication administration process needs to be optimized in hospitals in order to minimize the incidence of iatrogenic preventable diseases.

Aged↗