A multicenter record review of in-hospital adverse drug events requiring a higher level of care.

Objective: Adverse drug events (ADEs) are a worldwide concern, particularly when leading to a higher level of care. This study defines a higher level of care as an unplanned (re)admission to an intensive care unit or an intervention by a Medical Emergency Team. The objectives are to describe the incidence and preventability of ADEs leading to a higher level of care, to assess the types of drug involved, and to identify the risk factors.

One fourth of unplanned transfers to a higher level of care are associated with a highly preventable adverse event: a patient record review in six Belgian hospitals.

Objective: The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence and preventability of adverse events requiring an unplanned higher level of care, defined as an unplanned transfer to the ICU or an in-hospital medical emergency team intervention, and to assess the type and the level of harm of each adverse event.

Design: A three-stage retrospective review process of screening, record review, and consensus judgment was performed.

Setting: Six Belgian acute hospitals.

Detectability and acceptability of continuous pulse signals for the MemoPatch(®) device, an electronic skin patch intended to deliver tactile medication reminder signals.

Background: Unintended forgetfulness is the most common cause of medication nonadherence. MemoPatch(®) is an electronic skin patch intended to deliver discreet tactile medication reminder stimuli. This study aimed 1) to evaluate, within an experimental setup, the detectability and acceptability of fifteen continuous bipolar pulse signals; 2) to identify variables, if any, associated with differential perception of the candidate reminder signals; and 3) to collect safety data as reported by subjects or observed by staff.

Detectability and appraisal thresholds of split pulse signals for the MemoPatch™ device, an electronic skin patch intended to deliver tactile medication reminder signals (study TS-104).

Patient non-adherence to prescribed medication regimens is a significant problem and affects clinical treatment outcomes. The MemoPatch™ medical device, currently in development, is an electronic skin patch intended to deliver tactile medication reminder signals. Fifty volunteers completed a laboratory experiment that evaluated the detectability and appraisal thresholds of five split signals; specifically, the current thresholds (in mA) at which a signal was detected (threshold T1), was considered sufficiently detectable to serve as a reminder signal (threshold T2), and became too strong as a reminder signal (threshold T3).

Design of a medical record review study on the incidence and preventability of adverse events requiring a higher level of care in Belgian hospitals.

Background: Adverse events are unintended patient injuries that arise from healthcare management resulting in disability, prolonged hospital stay or death. Adverse events that require intensive care admission imply a considerable financial burden to the healthcare system. The epidemiology of adverse events in Belgian hospitals has never been assessed systematically.

Meropenem -valproic acid interaction in patients with cefepime-associated status epilepticus.

Purpose: Two case reports of rapid decreases in valproic acid levels after initiation of meropenem in patients who developed new-onset seizure activity during treatment with cefepime are presented.

Summary: A 60-year-old Caucasian woman with myelodysplasia was transferred to the medical intensive care unit (MICU) on day 11 of her hospitalization. Cefepime was given as empiric therapy for febrile neutropenia.