Your Monthly Med Safety Tip from APMS:
Safety Tip: Ofloxacin otic vs ophthalmic mix-ups
Mix-ups in prescribing and dispensing these "look alike" dosage forms are well documented. The greatest risk of patient harm (ocular injury) is when an otic preparation is dispensed for use in the eye (differences in the formulation's excipients, pH, and tonicity).
Safe dispensing practices include:
- separating these dosage forms on inventory shelves
- dose-range computer alerts (otic doses are 5-10 drops vs 1-2 drops for eye use)
- employee education on the dose ranges and risks of mix-ups
- counseling to confirm indication/route
For more information, or to get your Medication Safety and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) program started, visit the APMS site at www.medicationsafety.org or give APMS a call at (866)365-7472.