ABSTRACT
Antimicrobials, such as antibiotics, antifungals, and antivirals, are essential medications in the treatment of infectious diseases. However, their use can be associated with safety issues and errors that can lead to adverse outcomes for patients. Antimicrobial safety involves various aspects, including adverse drug reactions, toxicity, drug interactions, and the development of antibiotic resistance. Antimicrobial errors, on the other hand, include prescribing errors, dispensing errors, administration errors, and monitoring errors. These errors can occur at any stage of the medication use process and can be caused by various factors, such as lack of knowledge, inadequate communication, and system-related issues. To promote antimicrobial safety and reduce errors, healthcare providers should follow evidence-based guidelines for the appropriate use of antimicrobials, such as prescribing the right drug, dose, and duration. They should also conduct appropriate patient monitoring, including laboratory tests and clinical assessments, to detect and manage adverse events and avoid medication errors. Additionally, healthcare providers should engage in effective communication and collaboration with other members of the healthcare team to ensure coordinated and safe care for patients. The aim of this chapter is to present real cases about the antimicrobials use errors and problems.
