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World J Clin Pediatr. Aug 8, 2014; 3(3): 37-44
Published online Aug 8, 2014. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v3.i3.37
Published online Aug 8, 2014. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v3.i3.37
Preventing medication errors in neonatology: Is it a dream?
Roberto Antonucci, Annalisa Porcella, Division of Neonatology and Pediatrics, “Nostra Signora di Bonaria” Hospital, 09037 San Gavino Monreale, Italy
Author contributions: Antonucci R contributed to the study conception and design; Antonucci R and Porcella A contributed to the acquisition analysis and interpretation of data, draftinged of manuscript, critically revised the paper.
Correspondence to: Roberto Antonucci, MD, Chief, Division of Neonatology and Pediatrics, “Nostra Signora di Bonaria” Hospital, Via Roma 1, 09037 San Gavino Monreale, Italy. roant@tiscali.it
Telephone: +39-70-9378263 Fax: +39-70-9378260
Received: April 28, 2014
Revised: May 31, 2014
Accepted: July 25, 2014
Published online: August 8, 2014
Processing time: 128 Days and 14.1 Hours
Revised: May 31, 2014
Accepted: July 25, 2014
Published online: August 8, 2014
Processing time: 128 Days and 14.1 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Although a high medication error (ME) rate has been found in neonatal wards, newborn safety issues have not been adequately studied until now. Healthcare professionals working in neonatal wards are particularly susceptible to committing MEs due to the peculiarities of newborn patients and of the neonatal intensive care unit environment. Current neonatal prevention strategies for MEs have been borrowed from adult wards, but many factors such as high costs and organizational barriers have hindered their diffusion. The present article reviews current issues related to MEs in Neonatology and discusses the strategies to prevent them and to improve the safety of newborns.