Potential tenfold drug overdoses on a neonatal unit
- Correspondence to:
Mrs K Chappell
Pharmacy Department, QMC University Hospital, Derby Road, Nottingham NG7 2UH; karen.chappellmail.qmcuh-tr.trent.nhs.uk
- Accepted 24 November 2003
Abstract
Nearly one third of intravenous drug prescriptions on a neonatal unit were for doses less than one tenth of a single drug vial. Tenfold drug errors in prescribing are well documented and with the continued use of vials containing adult size doses, great potential exists for serious administration errors.
