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. 2016 Apr 1;7(3):102–119. doi: 10.1177/2042098616642231

Table 3.

Types of medications most commonly associated with error.

Patient group Neonates Paediatrics Adult Elderly
Commonly identified medications Adrenaline [Wong et al. 2009] Adrenaline [Calabrese et al. 2001];
A-PINCH-listed medication Antibiotics: Amikacin [Pallas et al. 2008], Benzylpenicillin [Simpson et al. 2004]; Gentamicin [Simpson et al. 2004; Pallas et al. 2008; Stavroudis et al. 2010]; Vancomycin [Simpson et al. 2004; Pallas et al. 2008]; Antibiotics [Folli et al. 1987; Ross et al. 2000; Kozer et al. 2002]; Benzylpenicillin [Wong et al. 2009]; Gentamicin [Wong et al. 2009] Antibiotics [Winterstein et al. 2004; Jennane et al. 2011; Zeraatchi et al. 2013];
Mupirocin [Winterstein et al. 2004]
Antibiotics: Vancomycin, Gentamicin, Cefazolin, Metronidazole [Picone et al. 2008; Ernawati et al. 2014]
A-PINCH-listed medication Anticoagulants [Frey et al. 2002] Anticoagulants: Warfarin [Calabrese et al. 2001; Winterstein et al. 2004; Jennane et al. 2011; Zeraatchi et al. 2013] Anticoagulants: Warfarin [Picone et al. 2008; Ernawati et al. 2014]
Anticonvulsants [Wong et al. 2009] Anticonvulsants [Winterstein et al. 2004]
Sedatives: Midazolam [Frey et al. 2002] Sedatives [Wong et al. 2009] Benzodiazepines: Lorazepam, Midazolam [Calabrese et al. 2001; Jennane et al. 2011] Benzodiazepines: Alprazolam, Lorazepam [Picone et al. 2008; García-Aparicio and Herrero-Herrero, 2013]
A-PINCH-listed medication Chemotherapy drugs [Folli et al. 1987; Ross et al. 2000] Antineoplastic agents [Winterstein et al. 2004] Antineoplastic agents: Azathioprine, Doxorubicin [Picone et al. 2008]
Anti-arrhythmics [Frey et al. 2002] Captopril [Wong et al. 2009];
Digoxin [Folli et al. 1987; Wong et al. 2009];
Propranolol [Folli et al. 1987]
Calcium-channel blockers [Winterstein et al. 2004];
Digoxin [Calabrese et al. 2001];
Sympathomimetic agents: Dobutamine [Calabrese et al. 2001; Winterstein et al. 2004]
Cardiovascular: Digoxin, Metoprolol, Amiodarone [Picone et al. 2008; García-Aparicio and Herrero-Herrero, 2013; Ernawati et al. 2014];
Isosorbide mononitrate [García-Aparicio and Herrero-Herrero, 2013]
Frusemide [Frey et al. 2002; Stavroudis et al. 2010] Frusemide [Picone et al. 2008; García-Aparicio and Herrero-Herrero, 2013]
Ranitidine [Pallas et al. 2008] Docusate sodium [Winterstein et al. 2004];
H2 antagonists [Winterstein et al. 2004];
Metoclopramide [Winterstein et al. 2004];
GI Drugs: Docusate, Omeprazole[Picone et al. 2008; García-Aparicio and Herrero-Herrero, 2013; Ernawati et al. 2014]
A-PINCH-listed medication Heparin [Frey et al. 2002] Heparin [Wong et al. 2009] Thrombolytics: Heparin [Calabrese et al. 2001; Winterstein et al. 2004; Zeraatchi et al. 2013] Heparin [Picone et al. 2008]
A-PINCH-listed medication Insulin [Simpson et al. 2004] Insulin [Ross et al. 2000; Wong et al. 2009] Insulin [Calabrese et al. 2001; Zeraatchi et al. 2013] Insulin [Picone et al. 2008]
A-PINCH-listed medication Fentanyl [Frey et al. 2002; Pallas et al. 2008; Stavroudis et al. 2010]
Morphine [Simpson et al. 2004; Stavroudis et al. 2010]
Morphine [Ross et al. 2000; Wong et al. 2009] Fentanyl [Calabrese et al. 2001]
Morphine [Calabrese et al. 2001; Jennane et al. 2011]
Morphine [Picone et al. 2008; Ernawati et al. 2014]
NSAIDs: Indomethacin [Frey et al. 2002; Stavroudis et al. 2010] NSAIDs [Winterstein et al. 2004]
Parenteral nutrition: amino acids/fat emulsions [Frey et al. 2002; Stavroudis et al. 2010] Parenteral nutrition [Folli et al. 1987; Ross et al. 2000] Electrolyte, caloric and water balance agents [Winterstein et al. 2004] Nutrients [Picone et al. 2008; Ernawati et al. 2014]
A-PINCH listed medication Potassium chloride [Stavroudis et al. 2010]
Glucose [Frey et al. 2002]
IV fluids [Folli et al. 1987; Ross et al. 2000; Wong et al. 2009] Potassium chloride [Calabrese et al. 2001] Electrolyte and water balance –potassium chloride, IV fluids [Picone et al. 2008]
Steroids [Folli et al. 1987; Ross et al. 2000] Corticosteroids [Jennane et al. 2011] Hydrocortisone [Picone et al. 2008]
Individually identified medications Alteplase [Frey et al. 2002]
Aminophylline [Simpson et al. 2004]
Dopamine [Frey et al. 2002; Pallas et al. 2008]
Erythropoietin [Pallas et al. 2008; Stavroudis et al. 2010]
Immunizations [Simpson et al. 2004]
Ketamine [Frey et al. 2002]
Milk [Frey et al. 2002]
Pancuronium [Frey et al. 2002]
Prostaglandin [Frey et al. 2002]
Tazocin [Simpson et al. 2004]
Vasodilators [Frey et al. 2002]
Vecuronium [Stavroudis et al. 2010]
Antihistamines [Kozer et al. 2002]
Atropine [Folli et al. 1987]
Paracetamol [Kozer et al. 2002; Wong et al. 2009]
Phenytoin [Wong et al. 2009]
Theophylline [Folli et al. 1987]
Nystatin [Winterstein et al. 2004] Allopurinol [García-Aparicio and Herrero-Herrero, 2013]
Gabapentin [García-Aparicio and Herrero-Herrero, 2013]
Iron supplements [García-Aparicio and Herrero-Herrero, 2013]
Statins [García-Aparicio and Herrero-Herrero, 2013]

A-PINCH, compiled by the Australian Clinical Excellence Commission, the list groups together medications that are universally considered to be high-risk and are represented by the acronym A-PINCH: A, anti-infectives; P, potassium and other electrolytes; I, insulin; N, narcotics and other sedatives; C, chemotherapeutic agents; H, heparin and other anticoagulants [Clinical Excellence Commission, 2015].

GI, gastrointestinal; IV, intravenous; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.