Drug Safety Awareness in New Zealand: Public Knowledge and Preferred Sources for Information.

Drug safety awareness in New Zealand: public knowledge and preferred sources for information.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

J Prim Health Care. 2012; 4(4): 288-93
Brounéus F, Macleod G, Maclennan K, Parkin L, Paul C

To make informed choices about medical treatment options, patients and consumers need knowledge about the benefits and the risks of drugs. Little is known about levels of drug safety knowledge or preferred sources of drug safety information in general population samples.To explore drug safety knowledge, experience of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and preferred sources for drug safety information in the New Zealand public.We undertook a telephone survey of a random sample of adults (N=87) in the Dunedin area of New Zealand.Although 47% of those currently or recently using prescription or over-the-counter drugs (N=83) were unable to recall any safety information at all about the medicine they were taking, 84% felt confident they could use these medicines in a safe way. The experience of at least one ADR during the last five years was reported by 40%. The five most preferred sources for drug safety information among all participants were: doctor (92%), pharmacist (76%), information on/inside the medicine package (66%), nurse (57%), and the internet (41%).Our results add to findings from specific patient groups to show that there is a low level of drug safety knowledge in the general population. Primary health care practitioners have a recognised and vital part to play in promoting drug safety awareness.
HubMed – drug

White coats as a vehicle for bacterial dissemination.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

J Clin Diagn Res. 2012 Oct; 6(8): 1381-4
Banu A, Anand M, Nagi N

White coats are known to be potential transmitting agents of multi-drug resistant organisms. This study was conducted to determine the level and type of microbial contamination present on the white coats of medical students in order to assess the risk of transmission of pathogenic micro-organisms by this route in a hospital setting.A cross sectional survey of the bacterial contamination of white coats in a tertiary care hospital. 100 medical students working in various specialties were included in the study. Swabs were taken from 4 different areas of the white coat – collar, pocket, side and lapel and processed in the Microbiology department according to standard procedures.Although most of the white coats had been washed within the past 2 weeks, the sides of the coats were the most highly contaminated areas followed closely by the collar and pockets. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common isolate followed by coagulase negative Staphylococci and Gram negative non fermenters. Most of the Gram positive cocci were resistant to Penicillin, Erythromycin and Clindamycin.White coats have been shown to harbor potential contaminants and may have a role in the nosocomial transmission of pathogenic microorganisms. Thus, a yearly purchase of white coats and the possession of two or more white coats at any point in time should be made compulsory. There is pressing need to promote scrupulous hand washing before and after attending patients and alternatives to white coats, including universal use of protective gowns, should be considered.
HubMed – drug

GA101 (a Novel Anti-CD20 Monoclonal Antibody)-Induced Lichenoid Eruption.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2012 Dec; 2(1): 3
Bakkour W, Coulson IH

INTRODUCTION: Obinutuzumab (GA101) is a novel anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that has been shown to be effective for the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and is currently being evaluated in phase 3 clinical trials. The side-effect profile of the drug is not yet well established. CASE REPORT: The authors report a case of a 62-year-old patient who developed widespread lichenoid eruption as a result of GA101 treatment for his follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. CONCLUSION: This is the first case report of cutaneous side effects of GA101.
HubMed – drug

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