An Assessment of the Need for Pharmaceutical Care in an NICU in SA

This research aimed to assess the benefits of pharmaceutical care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Dr George Mukhari Hospital. Various interventions were suggested, for medicines, clinical conditions and pharmacotherapy. Three sub-studies, followed. These sub-studies were an analysis of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of a once daily dose regimen of amikacin, monitoring of the treatment of fungal infections with amphotericin B, and a comparison of the safety and efficacy of aminophylline versus caffeine to prevent apnoea of prematurity. As an outcome of the original study, the researcher designed a score sheet as a tool to prioritise patients in NICU for pharmaceutical care, based on risk factors which may predispose them to require frequent or time-consuming interventions by the pharmacist. This score sheet can serve as a basis for clinical staff to refer patients to the pharmacist, for which there is currently no system in place. This research highlighted and promoted the role of the pharmacist in patient-centred care and proposes a way by which the pharmacist can participate actively in clinical care, by utilising a referral system.