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Though newer “smart” infusion pumps are increasingly becoming more sophisticated, they cannot prevent all programming and administration errors. Health care professionals that use smart infusion pumps must still practice the rights of medication administration and have other professionals double-check all high-risk infusions.
Certain chemicals, after ingestion, can be converted by the body into cyanide. Most of these chemicals have been removed from the market, but some old nail polish remover, solvents, and plastics manufacturing solutions can contain these substances.
For pediatric patients, intravenous fluids are the most commonly cited products involved in medication errors that are reported to the USP.
More than 34,000 trademarked medication names and more than 10,000 generic medication names are in use in the United States.
Women are 50% to 75% more likely than men to experience an adverse drug reaction.