ADVERSE DRUG-REACTIONS IN A PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE-CARE UNIT

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were prospectively studied in critically ill infants and children. Seventy-six ADRs were reported in 63 patien ts out of a study group of 899 patients. The majority of the ADRs were mild (49), although 19 were of moderate severity and 8 were severe. T hirty-five ADRs required treatment or alteration in treatment. Midazol am, morphine, salbutamol, vecuronium, hydrocortisone and theophylline were the drugs most likely to cause an ADR. One-third of the ADRs were due to drugs used outside their product licence. The majority of the ADRs were reported by nurses (36) and pharmacists (30). We believe tha t it is possible to prospectively study drug toxicity in critically il l infants and children.