The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7219 p525
12 October 2002

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Letters to the Editor

Antibiotics

Volume for reconstitution should be clear

From Mr C. P. Caplan, MRPharmS

Back in the early 1970s I campaigned with various manufacturers to make more clear the volume of purified water to be added to the various powdered antibiotic suspensions.

The late Stan Hazard, our local representative from Abbott Laboratories, persuaded his bosses of the importance of helping pharmacists by displaying, in clear, large print, the volume of water to be added — congratulations to Abbott for continuing this excellent service to pharmacists.

It is a shame there are those who do not see the importance of assisting pharmacists at the point of reconstitution of these medicines. Volumes vary significantly, as we all know, yet the size of the labelling appears to be getting smaller — or is it my age?

One of your reports from the British Pharmaceutical Conference (PJ, 28 September, p447) had the headline "Patient safety is our raison d'ętre", and quoted Dr Jim Smith, chief pharmacist in England, as saying: "discrepancies happen far too frequently and we must minimise them". So how about it then?

 C. Caplan
Leeds

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