The importance of intra-hospital pharmacovigilance in the detection of medication errors

Abstract

Introduction: Hospitalized patients are susceptible to medication errors, which represent between the fourth and the sixth cause of death. The department of intra-hospital pharmacovigilance intervenes in the entire process of medication with the purpose to prevent, repair and assess damages. Objective: To analyze medication errors reported by Mexican Fundacion Clinica Medica Sur pharmacovigilance system and their impact on patients. Method: Prospective study carried out from 2012 to 2015, where medication prescriptions given to patients were recorded. Owing to heterogeneity, data were described as absolute numbers in a logarithmic scale. Results: 292 932 prescriptions of 56 368 patients were analyzed, and 8.9% of medication errors were identified. The treating physician was responsible of 83.32% of medication errors, residents of 6.71% and interns of 0.09%. No error caused permanent damage or death. Conclusion: This is the pharmacovigilance study with the largest sample size reported.