Masking of an intravenous preparation of ceftriaxone for use in clinical trials: A technical report.

Background: Intravenous antibiotics are often evaluated in clinical trials in hospitalised patients but for blinded trials masking of antibiotics is required.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of masking of ceftriaxone and amoxicillin / clavulanic acid for use in blinded clinical trials.

Design Setting And Participants: Amoxicillin / clavulanic acid (1.

Perioperative variable rate intravenous insulin infusion: a quality improvement project on a vascular surgery ward.

Aims: Variable rate intravenous insulin infusion (VRIII) is used perioperatively to maintain normoglycaemia in patients with diabetes who are undergoing surgery. The aims of this project were as follows: (1) to audit the extent to which perioperative prescribing of VRIII for diabetic vascular surgery inpatients at our hospital meets established standards and (2) to use the results of the audit to guide improvement in the quality and safety of prescribing practices and reduce VRIII overuse.

Methods: Vascular surgery inpatients who had perioperative VRIII were included in the audit.