Intravenous Antibiotic Administration via Syringe Pump Safety Software: Audit
Karen Davies1,2,3, Crystal Dutt4, Sahra Ashley2, Anjela Pham Nguyen2, Katherine Losinski 2, Peter Donovan2,3, Ian Coombes2,3, , 1Herston Infectious Disease Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia2Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia3University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia4Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Background
Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) have a 69% complication rate resulting in removal and incomplete therapy. To reduce this, low concentration intravenous antibiotic (IVAB) profiles were added to Intravenous (IV) syringe pumps to improve nurse adherence with correct administration. The aim was to determine the usage, cost, and staff acceptability of the IV antibiotic drug profiles in the IV syringe pump drug libraries.
Method
A snapshot audit of all patients receiving IVABs via volumetric pump, bolus dosing, or IV syringe pump with pre-set IV safety software concentration and rate. Cost of consumables for each modality were calculated. Nursing staff barriers and enablers of therapy modalities were obtained by a face-to-face survey and opportunistic narrative field notes by the auditor.
Results
The percentage of patients on IVABs administered via IV syringe pump was zero. Consumables cost an extra $6.15 per IVAB dose not using a syringe pump. Nurse enablers were cost, patients able to mobilise and be disconnected between doses, and increased education on the use of IV syringe pumps for IVABs. Barriers were a lack of access to an IV syringe pump due to unavailability and requiring a volume greater than 50mL to administer the antibiotic.
Conclusion
This audit found utilisation and nurse acceptability of IV syringe pumps for administration of IVABs is low. This impacts the cost on delivery of IVABs. Frequent education and training, as well as greater access to these pumps, could assist staff adopt this practice and adhere to correct IV administration rate and concentration.
Biography
Dr Davies RN PhD is a Nurse Research Fellow with the Herston Infectious Diseases Institute (HeIDI), Metro North Health, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, and Lecturer Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland. Karen is an infectious disease nurse researcher with a special interest in intravenous antimicrobial administration and vascular access management. Karen’s speciality is in safe medication practice having conducted her PhD at the University of Queensland designing a tool to evaluate nurses medication administration standard of practice and continues this program of work with postdoctoral studies.