Highly-Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) is subject to medication errors that can seriously affect the patient. Eginger et al identified types of medication errors that occur in HIV patients who have been hospitalized. The authors are from Gaston Memorial Hospital in Gastonia, North Carolina, University of Florida at Jacksonville and Shands Jacksonville Medical Center.
Patient selection: hospitalized HIV patient receiving HAART
Admission orders were evaluated for medication errors showing a deviation from the outpatient regimen.
Regimen-related medication errors:
(1) incorrect regimen
(2) incomplete regimen
(3) drug-drug interaction
Dose-related medication errors:
(1) omitted dose
(2) incorrect dose
(3) dose not adjusted for renal function
(4) dose not adjusted for hepatic function
(5) duplication of therapy (dose not necessary)
where:
• A contraindication might fit under incorrect regimen but could be separated off as well.
• Continuation of a drug after onset of a significant adverse effect might also be considered a medication error.
All errors except omiited dose are correctable errors.
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