Medical masks’ and respirators’ pattern of use,adverse effects and errors among Portuguese health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundDuring COVID-19 pandemic, a shortage of surgical masks (Mask) and respirators (Resp) was experienced worldwide. We aimed to assess its pattern of use, adverse effects and user errors by Portuguese health care professionals (HCP).MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted through snowball convenience sample, collected by email/ social media to health care organizations. Participants answered an online anonymous survey in March 2021.ResultsMean age of 3052 respondents was 42.1 years old, 83.6% were female and 77.8% provided direct health care to COVID-19 patients. Mean time of use per shift was 6-8 hours in 40.8% of the participants. 28.0% reported never changing it during their shift. Resp use (vs Mask) was more associated with discomfort (58.2% vs 26.8%), affecting task performance (41.5 vs 18.9%) and communication (55.0 vs 40.9%), dyspnea (36.0 vs 14.4%), skin rash (37.5 vs 19.4%) and headache (37.5 vs 19.4%). Frequent user errors included touching the front while in use (70.1% Mask vs 66.3% Resp) and omitting hand hygiene before (61.8% Mask vs 55.0% Resp) or after use (61.3% Mask vs 57.0% Resp). Average number of errors was higher for Mask (4.3), than for Resp (3.2) (all: P < .001).ConclusionsMost HCP admitted an extended use of Mask/ Resp. Resp were more prone to adverse effects and Mask more prone to errors. Strategies to reinforce good practices should be considered.     

Adverse events due to unnecessary radiation exposure in medical imaging reported in Finland

IntroductionAdverse events in radiology are quite rare, but they do occur. Radiation safety regulations and the law obligate organizations to report certain adverse events, harm and near misses, especially events related to patients' health and safety. The aim of this study was to describe and analyse incidents related to radiation safety issues reported in Finland.MethodsThe data were collected from incident reports documented by radiology personnel concerning notifications of abnormal events in medical imaging made to the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority between 2010 and 2017. During these eight years, 312 reports were submitted. Only events reported from radiology departments were included; nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and animal radiology cases were excluded. The final number of reports was 293 (94%).ResultsThe majority of the 293 approved reports were related to computed tomography (CT, 68.3%) and to X-ray examinations (27.6%). Altogether 82.9% of those irradiated were adults, most of whom were exposed to unnecessary radiation through CT (86.5%), 5.5% were children, and 4.4% pregnant women. The most common effective dose of unnecessary radiation was 1 mSv or less (89.7% of all examinations). The highest effective doses were reported in CT (from under 1 mSv–20 mSv and above). The reasons for the adverse events were incorrect identification (32%), incorrect procedure, site or side (30%); and human errors or errors of knowledge (20%).ConclusionAdverse events occurred especially in CT examinations. It is important to collect and analyse incident data, assess the harmful events, learn from them and aim to reduce adverse events.Implications for practiceThis study emphasizes the need for radiological personnel to obtain evidence-based information on adverse events and focus on training to improve patient safety.     

葛根素注射剂不良反应流行病学特点研究

目的 探讨葛根素注射剂不良反应的流行病学特点.方法 通过检索1978～2008年医药学期刊,收集葛根素注射剂不良反应详细病案120例;在构建数据库的基础上,应用统计学方法对其相关信息进行分析.结果 葛根素注射剂不良反应类型多样,其中以溶血反应数量最多,共32例,构成比为21.33%;其余依次为皮肤损害31例(20.67%),循环系统损害24例(16%),呼吸系统损害19例(12.67%),消化系统损害17例(11.33%),药物热11例(7.33%)和过敏性休克9例(6.00%)等.结论 溶血反应是葛根素注射剂最常见的不良反应;超剂量、不合理配伍、过敏性体质等可能是葛根素注射剂不良反应发生的主要原因.     

注射用丹参分子排阻色谱及指纹图谱差减分析

目的 探讨注射用丹参质量差异的分析方法.方法 取临床不良反应有差异的不同批号的样品进行平行比对试验,分别应用凝胶分子排阻色谱、碳十八反相液相色谱进行指纹图谱分析,通过综合差减分析揭示非小分子酚酸类成分信息.结果 注射用丹参的凝胶分子排阻色谱有显著的批间差异,非小分子酚酸类成分批间差异显著,与豚鼠急性毒性反应程度相对应.结论 非小分子酚酸类成分应作为丹参系列注射剂质量控制的重点.提出谱毒学研究是中药注射剂安全性研究的重要方向之一.     

Clinical Efficacy of New Antiepileptic Drugs in Refractory Partial Epilepsy: Experience in the United States With Three Novel Drugs

Summary: A number of new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including topiramate (TPM), felbamate (FBM), and gabapentin (GBP), are approved or believed to be close to approval for marketing in the United States. Key efficacy findings for these AEDs in refractory partial epilepsy were reviewed. Large and significant drug-placebo differences were observed with TPM in two large dose-finding trials conducted in the United States. The minimal effective dose of TPM in the population studied was determined to be approximately 200 mg/day, and doses above 600 mg/day produced good efficacy but little incremental benefit versus the lower dosages for the overall study population. FBM is active in partial epilepsy, although seizure reduction is less marked and drug interactions complicate the findings. GBP is also active in this population, but only the 1,800 mg/day dosage was significantly better than placebo with respect to percent re-sponders. It may be useful to explore higher dosage ranges for both FBM and GBP if they can be well tolerated.     

Adverse drug reactions: physicians' opinions versus a causality assessment method

Since spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions depends on the physician's opinion of the relationship between the drug and the adverse event, we compared physicians' opinions with the scores obtained by the causality assessment method used in France. During a 2 month period, all physicians who reported adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to our pharmacovigilance centre expressed their opinions on the causal link by means of visual analogue scales. ADR reports were then assessed with the French causality assessment method by a clinical pharmacologist who was blind to physicians' opinions.The assessment by both physicians and the standardized method was performed for 75 ADR cases involving 120 drugs. Physicians used a wide range of assessments, with a preponderance of extreme scores, resulting in a U-shaped distribution, while the standardized method gave generally low scores. Scores given by physicians were very high (causality considered very likely or likely) in 60% of cases and very low (causality considered unlikely or dubious/possible) in 32% of cases. Scores obtained using the causality assessment method were low (causality dubious/possible) in 89% of cases and causality considered likely in only 11 cases, essentially in cases with positive rechallenge. Complete agreement occurred in only 6% of cases. Adding complete agreement and minor discrepancies raised the percentage to 49%.     

Adverse reactions to non-ionic contrast media with special regard to high-risk patients

Non-ionic contrast media (CM) are proven to be significantly safer than the high osmolar ionic contrast media (HOCM). Nevertheless deaths are reported after administration of non-ionic agents. The aim of the study was to investigate the rate of adverse reactions to non-ionic CM with special regard to high-risk patients and the effects of premedication with H1-and H2-receptor antagonists.In a prospective study conducted over about 2 years 12 995 examinations with intravenous or intra-arterial non-ionic CM were evaluated. Premedication with H1-and H2-antagonists was used in 1276 high-risk patients with known adverse reaction to CM, history of allergy or severe cardiac or pulmonary disease. 229 patients received no premedication inspite of known risk factors. In total, there were 143 (1.10%) adverse reactions (mild in 0.58%, moderate in 0.41% and severe in 0.05%). In high-risk patients there were adverse reactions in 4.37% without and in 1.57% with premedication. There were no severe adverse reactions in the high-risk patients after premedication. The age of the patient, CM dosage and CM concentration were not shown to be risk factors in the present study. In conclusion, the additional premedication with H1- and H2-antagonists could be an effective agent to reduce the risk of mild and moderate adverse reactions and to avoid severe adverse reactions in high-risk patients. Correspondence to: U. Fink     

磁共振增强扫描中欧乃影不良反应的临床观察及预防措施

目的探讨欧乃影在临床应用中不良反应的发生和预防措施。方法观察2003年10月至2006年7月所作1000例增强扫描者静脉注射欧乃影0.2mL/kg(其量浓度(c)为0.5mol/L)后,不良反应发生的情况。结果1000例患者中,出现不良反应6例,其中,非过敏反应3例,轻度过敏反应3例,无中度及重度过敏反应。结论欧乃影在磁共振增强扫描中不良反应发生率低,临床应用安全。