The Safety of Intravenous Drug Delivery Systems: Update on Current Issues since the 1999 Consensus Development Conference

This review was prepared in advance of the Second Consensus Development Conference on the Safety of Intravenous Drug Delivery Systems that was held at Hotel Sofitel in Rosemont, Illinois, from August 7 to 9, 2008. The purpose of this conference was evaluation of the safety of intravenous (IV) infusion systems used for medication administration. Specifically, the purpose was to build on the work from the initial Consensus Development Conference that convened in 1999. At that time, an interdisciplinary expert panel of physicians, nurses, and pharmacists reviewed 6 IV drug delivery systems (IV push systems, volume-control chambers, augmented IV push systems, point-of-care activated systems, pharmacy-based IV admixture systems, and manufacturer-prepared products) with regard to safety, cost, simplicity of use, and amount of education and training required for proper use. The Second Consensus Development Conference expanded on the initial conference findings through presentations regarding the impact of medication errors, a review of related standards and guidelines released since 1999, and analyses and perspectives on the different IV drug delivery systems. The invited faculty and audience provided comments on a preliminary report issued during the meeting. The interdisciplinary expert panel produced a final report, which will be published at a later date, by the end of the one-and-a-half-day conference.