TITRATED INTRAVENOUS OPIOIDS FROM THE SAME SYRINGE - AN INFECTION RISK

Objective-(1) To compare the rate of contamination of syringes prepare d under laminar flow conditions in pharmacy with those prepared by nur ses in the emergency department; (2) to determine whether the time ela psed since preparation or number of doses given affected the contamina tion rate; (3) to determine whether any adverse effects resulted from bacterially contaminated drugs. Methods-Prospective, blinded trial exp loring the effect of method of preparation, time since preparation, an d number of doses given on contamination rates and infective adverse e vents associated with bacterially contaminated specimens. Results-The rate of bacterial contamination was 12% (95% confidence interval 6% to 18%). There was no difference in contamination rate in respect of met hod of preparation, number of doses given, or time since preparation. No infective complications were identified. Conclusions Abandonment of titrated intravenous opioids is not justified by the results. However , there is concern about the use of this technique of pain control for immunocompromised patients and those with prosthetic heart valves.