Description
To accommodate small fluid volumes, repackaging of intravenous fat emulsions (IVFEs) is frequently performed in institutions providing parenteral nutrition to neonates and smaller pediatric patients. However, some consider this an unsafe practice. Concerns for potential administration errors leading to an overdose of IVFEs are weighed against the potential for microbial contamination from the repackaging process. The clinician providing pediatric nutrition support should tailor repackaging practices to ensure patient safety and quality. This discussion aims to describe the strengths and limitations surrounding IVFE repackaging to provide guidance regarding the practice.
Subject
Drug Packaging – Methods; Drug Packaging/*methods; Fat Emulsions; Humans; Infant; Intravenous – Administration and Dosage; intravenous fat emulsions; Intravenous/*administration & dosage; Medication Errors – Prevention and Control; Medication Errors/*prevention & control; neonates; Newborn; parenteral nutrition; Parenteral Nutrition – Methods; parenteral nutrition solutions; Parenteral Nutrition/*methods; pediatrics