Clinical review: Medication errors in critical care

Table 2 Risk factors for medication errors in the intensive care unit

Factors	Specific risk factors
Patient	Severity of illness
	Strongest predictor of ADE [25,34]
	ICU patients more likely to experience ADE than patients in other units [35]
	Extreme of ages
	Increased susceptibility to ADEs [2,78]
	Prolonged hospitalization
	Increased exposure and susceptibility to ADEs [2,78]
	Sedation
	Patients unable to participate in care and defend themselves against errors [9]
Medications	Types of medications
	Frequent use of boluses and infusions [9]
	Weight-based infusions derived from estimated weights or unreliable determinations [79]
	Mathematical calculations required for medication dosages [9]
	Programming of infusion pumps [44]
	Number of medications
	Twice as many medications prescribed as for patients in other units [35]
	Increased probability of medication error and medication interactions [35]
	Number of interventions
	Increased risk of complications [80]
ICU environment	Complex environment
	Difficult working conditions make errors more probable [81]
	High stress [20]
	High turnover of patients and providers [82,83]
	Emergency admissions
	Risk of an adverse event increases by approximately 6% per day [25,84]
	Multiple care providers
	Challenges the integration of different care plans [83]