IMSN Medication Safety Bulletin & other published material

Reducing the level of severe avoidable medication harm (Health Management Institute of Ireland 2018) – view article Medication Safety in Ireland (review of data between 1/1/06 & 30/6/07) (Irish Medical Journal 2009) – view documentA Collaborative study...

COVID-19 Drug Check

HSE COVID-19: Interim Clinical Guidance – COVID-19 Medication Safety Poster and Screensaver COVID Drug Check Medication Safety Poster COVID Drug Check Screensaver Materials developed by NHS Specialist Pharmacy Services and adapted by HSE & Irish Medication Safety...

CycloGEST CytoTEC errors in pregnancy (Safety Alert)

Sound-alike look-alike drug (SALAD) errors have occurred in maternity care with serious or extreme consequences. If a prostaglandin analogue e.g. misoprostol or dinoprostone, is used in error during pregnancy, serious patient harm including preterm delivery and...

Electronic transmission of prescriptions: IMSN Position Paper

The IMSN advocates for an integrated system that ensures that medicines information flows without restriction or distortion throughout the health system. Electronic transmission of prescriptions, enabled in 2020 by COVID-related legislative changes, is a step forward...

High-Strength Insulin preparations (Safety Alert)

Insulin is a high risk drug which has the potential to cause serious harm if it is not used correctly.1 Until recently, all insulin available on the European market contained 100 units / mL. A high-strength insulin is one which contains insulin at a concentration of...

Insulin (Best Practice Guidelines) v2

The US Institute for Safe Medication Practices considers insulin to be one of the top 5 ‘high-alert’ medications i.e. drugs that bear a heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when they are used in error. IMSN Insulin Best Practice...

Insulin pens and cross-contamination (Safety Alert)

Insulin pens (both disposable prefilled pens and reuseable pens) and insulin cartridges are for Single Patient Use only. Risk of Cross-contamination with Insulin Pens  This document replaces our original alert which was published in November...

Magnesium IV in Obstetrics (Safety Alert)

Magnesium sulphate is indicated in the management of pre-eclampsia and also for fetal neuroprotection if there is a risk of preterm delivery. Intravenous magnesium has been repeatedly associated with medication errors internationally and locally. One US...

Methotrexate (once weekly): Safety alert

Methotrexate is a high-risk drug, i.e.  serious patient harm can occur as a result of errors involving incorrect frequency (daily rather once weekly), incorrect strength tablets, incorrect strength tablets, or from an adverse drug reaction. Care must be taken...

Potassium IV (Best Practice Guidelines)

Potassium chloride (KCl) is a high-risk medication. The WHO/Joint Commission recommends that health-care organisations have systems and processes in place for the promotion of safe practices with potassium chloride and other concentrated electrolyte solutions. For...

Safe Use of Intravenous Iron

Permanent skin staining can occur with use of parenteral iron if there isextravasation (leakage of fluid) into the surrounding tissues. An increase in reports of iron staining in recent years has been attributed to increased use of intravenous (IV) iron.While skin...

Safe use of Oxytocin

The International Medication Safety Network have published their recommendations for the Global Implementation of Safe Oxytocin Use Practices 2023. The Irish Medication Safety Network contributed to the document and endorse the recommendations.

Sound Alike Look Alike Drugs (SALADs)

Can you read the following sentence? “it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer are in the rghit pcale” Surprisingly, many people can. This may explain why the following...

The Safe Use of IV Paracetamol

The IMSN have updated their guidance on the safe use of IV paracetamol (version 2, Nov 2019) While paracetamol has been used orally for many decades, the introduction of an IV formulation brought new risks, some of which were not experienced with oral and rectal...

Vinca Alkaloids: Safe Administration (Briefing document)

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published guidance in relation to administration of vinca alkaloids via intravenous minibag infusion to avoid accidental death Our previous guidance document on this subject, produced in 2008 and revised in 2010 has...