CP, 2008

Intravenous fluid therapy — background and principles

Pharmacists often challenge doctors on their prescribing of drugs, but fewer pharmacists challenge the prescribing of IV fluids. This article describes when and how IV fluids should be used, and which fluids are available.…

Understanding hospital pharmacy’s interface with research networks

The Department of Health’s plan to develop a healthcare research system to support a world class health service affects hospital pharmacies that conduct clinical trials. This article describes how some hospital pharmacists are approaching this challenge.…

Nutrition — drug-nutrient interactions

Many drugs are capable of interacting with nutrients and, therefore, nutritional feeds. Pharmacists need to be aware of when such interactions may occur. This article outlines the key mechanisms and factors to be considered…

Healthcare-associated infection: intervention-related infection

Invasive medical procedures break the body’s defence against infection and facilitate infiltration by micro-organisms. This article describes these infections and the financial burden they create for the health services.…