Findings of a naloxone database and its utilization to improve safety and education in a tertiary care medical center.
Naloxone administration in both the inpatient and outpatient settings is utilized to mitigate the effects of opioid overdose, a growing patient safety concern. Researchers analyzed inpatient administrations of naloxone over a 3-year period to characterize patients at greatest risk for adverse events related to opioid use. They found that surgical patients were at highest risk, especially within the 24-hour period after surgery.