PHARMACIST INTERVENTION AND PREPARATION OF MANUAL IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF DRUGS THROUGH ENTERAL FEEDING TUBE

Objective: To monitor errors in current practice and prepare a manual for proper drug administration through the enteral feeding tube. Methods: It is a prospective observational study conducted for a period of 6 mo in eight departments. The current drug administrations were monitored and checked for the errors which include crushed non crushable solid dosage forms, each drug is not prepared separately, incorrect solution used for dilution, drugs mixed with feeding formula, each drug is not administered separately, not flushed before administration of each drug, not flushed after administration of each drug and others (tablets are not crushed with proper device, motors and pestles are not cleaned frequently, spillage during crushing). Using the data, a manual was prepared and submitted to the physicians of each department. Results: The most prominent error was found to be that the drugs were not prepared and administered separately, tube not flushed before drug administration. Uses of noncrushable tablets were high in neurology. Pantoprazole (enteric coated) and prazosin (modified release) tablets were the most commonly used noncrushable drugs. Conclusion: The study observed the need for developing a standard protocol for drug administration through enteral feeding tube by the pharmacist along with the physician, nursing team to improve the quality of enteral therapy.