Evolution of intravenous medication errors and preventive systemic defenses in hospital settings—A narrative review of recent evidence (June 2024)

Summary

Intravenous drug administration has been associated with severe medication errors in hospitals. This narrative review and aimed to describe the recent evolution in research on systemic causes and defences in intravenous medication errors in hospitals. It highlights a growing interest in systems-based risk management for intravenous drug therapy and in introducing new technology, particularly smart infusion pumps and preparation systems, as systemic defences. The authors conclude that when introducing new technologies, prospective assessment and continuous monitoring of emerging safety risks should be conducted.