Assessing Iron Concentration in Pediatric Multivitamin Preparations in Mafraq Hospital to Prevent Possible Iron Toxicity

Al Aqqad *¹, Tarek Zarzour ²

1,2. Pediatric Resident, Mafraq Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Corresponding Author: Al Aqqad, Pediatric Resident, Mafraq Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Copy Right: © 2023, Al Aqqad, This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Received Date: May 27, 2023

Published Date: June 10, 2023

Background

Vitamin D is routinely prescribed to all babies after discharge from Maternity ward as per AAP guidelines. During the pediatric grand round meeting, a point was raised as many pediatric physicians were not prescribing multivitamins to children due to fear that they contain high concentration of iron

AIMs

Our aim was to assess the concentration of iron content in pediatric multivitamin preparations available in Mafraq Hospital pharmacy and increase physician awareness in the pediatric department to allow pediatricians to prescribe the multivitamins to their patients if needed.

Methods

A collaboration was made with the clinical pharmacists in Mafraq Hospital and all pediatric multivitamin preparations were assessed for their iron content. A review of the electronic medical records was made to correlate preparations of pediatric multivitamins available in Mafraq Hospital with the orders shown on the system.

Results

Analysis revealed three pediatric multivitamin preparations available in Mafraq hospital in oral solution or drops form none of which contained iron.

The only oral solution that contained high concentration of iron was discontinued in our hospital. After confirmation with the pharmacy, a report was taken to the electronic medical records department and the name of the multivitamin preparation that is not available was removed from the electronic medical records program used in the hospital.

The resolution was informed to the pediatrics team in the pediatric grand round meeting and via email and the confusion regarding the content of iron in the multivitamin preparations has been resolved.

• The resolution was informed to the pediatrics team in the pediatric grand round meeting and via email and the confusion regarding the content of iron in the multivitamin preparations has been resolved.

Conclusion

Clarification that multivitamin preparations in oral solution or drop form does not contain iron has helped pediatricians in Mafraq Hospital prescribe those preparations without worrying about possible iron toxicity in their patients.