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Background Guidelines for the safe administration of drugs through enteral feeding tube (EFT) are an important tool to minimise the risk of errors. This study aimed to investigate knowledge of these guidelines among staff of residential care facilities (RCF) for people with ID. Method Knowledge was assessed using a 13-item self-administered questionnaire. Questions reflected key aspects of guidelines on medication administration via EFT. All staff members that administer medication through EFT in Belgian RCFs were invited to participate ( n = 553). Results Nine out of 10 RCFs participated, and 356 questionnaires were collected. Almost all participants were women (96%), and most (82%) had a non-nursing educational background. Mean self-perceived knowledge of medication administration via EFT was 6.7 (on a 0-10 scale). On average, 5.7 (SD 1.9) out of 13 questions were answered correctly. A nursing degree and previous education on medication administration via EFT were associated with significantly higher scores. Guideline recommendations regarding rinsing of used medicine cups (90% correct answers) and preparation of hard gelatin capsules (89%) were known best. Those regarding the use of protective equipment when crushing toxic substances (4% correct answers), crushing of sustained release and enteric-coated dosage forms (6%), elevation of the patient's backrest (14%) and flushing of the EFT (15%) were known the least. Conclusion This study identified a substantial lack of knowledge of guidelines for drug administration through EFT among staff of RCFs for people with ID. Our findings call for tailored educational programmes in order to increase knowledge on this subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The administration of oral medication to patients with an enteral feeding tube ( EFT) is challenging. Compliance to guidelines concerning medication administration via EFT has been investigated extensively in the hospital setting. However, studies in residential care facilities ( RCFs) for individuals with intellectual disability ( ID) are very limited. Therefore, the present study aimed to collect direct observational data on drug administration practices to residents with EFT in multiple RCFs. Method This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in six Belgian RCFs for individuals with ID. Observations of medication preparation and administration through EFT were carried out in two randomly selected units per participating RCF, on 2 days per unit during all daytime drug rounds, using a direct observation method. Afterwards, the recorded observations were compared with international guidelines on drug preparation and administration through EFT. Results In total, 862 drug preparations and 268 administrations in 48 residents with EFT were witnessed. Mixing together multiple drugs, not diluting liquid formulations with at least an equal amount of water, not shaking suspensions/emulsions before use, and not selecting the most appropriate dosage form were the most common deviations from medication preparation guideline recommendations. For medication administration, not flushing the EFT with at least 15 mL water was the most common deviation. We also observed high variability in working methods regarding medication preparation and administration via EFT, even between staff members of the same unit. Conclusion This study found that current guidelines concerning medication preparation and administration through EFT are often not followed in Belgian RCFs for individuals with ID. Further research aimed at understanding why current guidelines are not followed seems warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytochrome P450 is involved in drug metabolism. Subfamily CYP3 A shows a degree of similarity across different animal species. However, little information is available about its expression and activity in broiler chickens. A RT- PCR method was developed for the quantification of CYP3 A37 expression in the liver and small intestine of broilers. A higher expression in the jejunum was observed compared with that in the ileum. In the liver, a significantly lower expression compared with that in the jejunum was noticed. Thus, the role of the small bowel in drug metabolism cannot be neglected in broilers. CYP3 A activity was studied in vitro using midazolam as a substrate. Two protocols for the preparation of intestinal microsomes were compared. Mincing of the tissues before ultracentrifugation seemed to be more appropriate than a protocol based on ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid separation. CYP3 A activity revealed to be the highest in the duodenum with a decreasing trend towards the ileum. Activity in liver was comparable to duodenal activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new generation carbon dioxide absorbents, DrägerSorb® Free and Amsorb® Plus, were studied in vitro for formation of compound A or carbon monoxide, during minimal gas flow (500 ml.min−1) with sevoflurane or desflurane. Compound A was assessed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and carbon monoxide with continuous infrared spectrometry. Fresh and dehydrated absorbents were studied. Mean (SD) time till exhaustion (inspiratory carbon dioxide concentration ≥ 1 kPa) with fresh absorbents was longer with DrägerSorb® Free (1233 (55) min) than with Amsorb® Plus (1025 (55) min; p < 0.01). For both absorbents, values of compound A were < 1 ppm and therefore below clinically significant levels, but were up to 0.25 ppm higher with DrägerSorb® Free than with Amsorb® Plus. Using dehydrated absorbents, values of compound A were about 50% lower than with fresh absorbents and were identical for DrägerSorb® Free and Amsorb® Plus. With dehydrated absorbents, no detectable carbon monoxide was found with desflurane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As drug instability and redistribution are factors known to affect the interpretation of post-mortem blood levels, we questioned whether post-mortem vitreous humour concentrations could be useful as predictors for the MDMA load at the time of death. In a first series of in vivo experiments using rabbits, 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) concentrations in plasma, blood and vitreous humour were studied as a function of time after intravenous (iv) administration of MDMA. Equilibration between the vascular compartment and vitreous humour was attained about 1 h after iv MDMA administration. In a second series of experiments, the post-mortem stability of MDMA in vitreous humour in relation to ambient temperature was investigated. Post-mortem MDMA concentrations in vitreous humour were closer to the ante-mortem blood levels when compared to cardiac blood samples. These preliminary investigations in the rabbit model indicate that measurements of vitreous humour concentrations could also be of interest for predicting the blood concentration at the time of death in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the case of two children with severe keratoconjunctivitis who developed corneal deposits after use of ofloxacin eye drops. Results of ocular biomicroscopy; Factors contributing to the formation of the fluoroquinolone precipitate.