39 research outputs found
Users' preferences and perceptions of thecomprehensibility and readability of medication labels
Objective: To evaluate the labeling preferences of medication users and characterize their perceptions of the comprehensibility and readability of medication labels. Methods: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study of medication users aged 18 years or older in 10 Brazilian capital cities. Perceptions of the comprehensibility and readability of medication labels in relation to sociodemographic characteristics were evaluated by Poisson regression models with robust variance. Labeling preferences were assessed through questions addressing possible improvements and through the use of digitally simulated packages. Results Of 6,255 medication users interviewed, more than half found it difficult or very difficult to read (50.8%) and/or understand (52.0%) medication labels. Difficulties were more pronounced for participants aged 40 years or older, with lower levels of education, and nonwhites. Increasing the font size (93.7%), describing the indications for use (95.9%) and contraindications (95.6%) on the label, and highlighting the expiration date (96.3%) were the most widely accepted improvements. In the evaluation of simulated packages, users preferred factors that improved readability, such as increased font size, use of graphic elements and color to highlight the concentration of the active ingredient, and contrast between the font color and background. The new simulated package design, with increased font size, color to highlight the concentration and contrast between the font color and background, was preferred over the standard design by 77.0% of participants. Conclusion: Based on users’ perceptions, increased font size and use of graphic elements and color to emphasize critical information, such as expiration date and concentration, are factors that contribute to making medication labels clearer to users. Pharmaceutical industries and policy makers should consider these items when developing labels and defining policies on this issue
Rótulos de medicamentos na perspectiva dos profissionais de saúde brasileiros dificuldades, nível de satisfação e melhorias propostas
Objective: To evaluate health professionals’ perceptions of medication error situations associated with labeling. Methods: Crosssectional study of 1056 nurse technicians, nurses, and pharmacists interviewed in 10 Brazilian capital cities. We assessed participants’ perceptions of difficulty in differentiating or seeing information on labels, likelihood of a medication error to occur, and frequency of medication errors, including: 1) look-alike vials or labels; 2) two packages of the same medicine but of different doses; 3) ampoule labels; 4) blister pack labels; and 5) labels printed on secondary packages. Results: Most participants reported it difficult or very difficult to differentiate between look-alike vials (82.4%) and between different doses of the same medicine (82.5%). Identifying important information on ampoules, blister packs, and secondary packages was considered difficult or very difficult by 89.9%, 64.4%, and 48.9% of participants, respectively. Approximately half of the participants reported that an error was most likely to occur in situations involving difficulty in seeing the information on an ampoule, look-alike labels, and packages of the same medicine but of different doses. Conclusion: Difficulty in at least one of the situations involving the identification or differentiation of medication labels is common among health professionals, leading to a greater likelihood of medication errors.Objetivo: Avaliar as percepções de profissionais da saúde sobre situações de erros de medicação associado a rotulagem. Métodos: Estudo transversal com 1.056 técnicos de enfermagem, enfermeiros e farmacêuticos entrevistados em 10 capitais brasileiras. Avaliamos a percepção dos participantes sobre a dificuldade em diferenciar ou ver as informações nos rótulos, a probabilidade de ocorrer um erro de medicação e a frequência de erros de medicação, incluindo: 1) frascos ou rótulos semelhantes; 2) duas embalagens do mesmo medicamento, mas com doses diferentes; 3) rótulos de ampolas; 4) rótulos das embalagens blister; e 5) etiquetas impressas nas embalagens secundárias. Resultados: A maioria dos participantes relatou ser difícil ou muito difícil diferenciar entre frascos idênticos (82,4%) e entre diferentes doses do mesmo medicamento (82,5%). A identificação de informações importantes sobre ampolas, blisters e embalagens secundárias foi considerada difícil ou muito difícil por 89,9%, 64,4% e 48,9% dos participantes, respectivamente. Aproximadamente metade dos participantes relatou que um erro era mais provável de ocorrer em situações envolvendo dificuldade em ver as informações em uma ampola, rótulos semelhantes e embalagens do mesmo medicamento, mas com doses diferentes. Conclusão: A dificuldade em pelo menos uma das situações que envolvem a identificação ou diferenciação dos rótulos dos medicamentos é comum entre os profissionais de saúde, levando a uma maior probabilidade de erros de medicação
Production and characterization of a bacteriocin produced by Bacillus sp. P45
Uma bacteriocina produzida por um microrganismo isolado do intestino do peixe Jaraqui, da bacia Amazônica, foi caracterizada. A bactéria foi identificada como pertencente ao gênero Bacillus por testes citomorfológicos, bioquímicos e fisiológicos. A análise filogenética feita através da seqüência do rDNA 16S revelou que a bactéria é geneticamente próxima de bactérias como B. subtilis e B. amyloliquefaciens. A bacteriocina foi produzida no início da fase exponencial de crescimento e a sua concentração atingiu o nível máximo no início da fase estacionária, caracterizando-se como metabólito primário. O sobrenadante inibiu Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Gallinarium, Listeria monocytogenes, Erwinia caratorvora entre outras espécies patogênicas. A atividade manteve-se constante em temperaturas de 10 a 100 ºC, por 30 minutos, iniciando um declínio a 100 ºC por 40 minutos. No teste do efeito de enzimas proteolíticas, a pronase E causou a perda do efeito antimicrobiano, indicando que se trata de uma substância de natureza protéica. A purificação foi realizada inicialmente por precipitação com sulfato de amônio, seguida de uma cromatografia de gel filtração (Sephadex G- 100). A etapa final foi a cromatografia de troca iônica (DEAE Sepharose). No final deste processo, obteve-se um fator de purificação de 42,6 com uma recuperação de 6,75%. A bacteriocina purificada manteve sua estabilidade térmica, mas perdeu a estabilidade frente a enzimas proteolíticas. O espectro de infravermelho indicou grupamentos NH e ligações peptídicas e o espectro de massas indicou um peptídeo de 1518,554 Da. A bacteriocina parcialmente purificada tem um EC50 de 400UA/mL e provocou uma diminuição de 6 logs de células de Listeria monocytogenes com 800UA/mL, provavelmente provocando lise celular.A bacteriocin produced by a microrganism isolated from the intestine of the fish Jaraqui of the Amazonian basin was characterized. The bacterium was identified as a species of the Bacillus genus by cytomorphological, biochemical and physiological tests. The phylogenetical analysis done by 16S rDNA sequence revealed that the bacterium is genetically close to B. subtilis and B. amyloliquefaciens. The bacteriocin is produced at exponential growth phase and its concentration achieves the maximum level at stationary growth phase, suggesting that this compound is a primary metabolite. The culture supernatant was active against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Gallinarium, Listeria monocytogenes, Erwinia caratorvora among other pathogenic species. The activity was constant in temperatures from 10 to 100 ºC for 30 minutes, begining to decline at 100 ºC for 40 minutos. When treated with proteolitic enzymes, pronase E caused the lost of the antimicrobian efect, proving that is a substance of proteinaceous nature. The purification was developed by ammoniun sulfate precipitation, followed by gel filtration chromatography (Sephadex G-100). The last step was an ion exchange chromatography (DEAE Sepharose). By the end of this process, we have a purification factor of 42,6 and a yield of 6,75%. The purified bacteriocin keeps its thermal stability, but looses the stability towards proteolytic enzymes. The infrared spectrum indicates NH groups and peptidic bounds and the mass spectrum indicates a peptide of 1518,554 Da. The bacteriocin partially purified has a EC50 of 400UA/mL and kills all viable cells of Listeria monocytogenes with 800UA/mL, probably by cell lysis