Medication safety
An elderly patient that I had known for years came in with a prescription for Sulfatrim to treat a urinary tract infection for her husband. The prescription looked straightforward at first, but I noticed that he had completed the same treatment just a week earlier. While the wife repeatedly expressed concern about her husband’s condition, she couldn’t clearly describe what felt wrong.
I reviewed his medical records and found his last blood work had been done ten months prior, showing an eGFR of 35 ml/min, indicating reduced kidney function. Given the repeat antibiotic and her unease, I decided to order updated labs, specifically kidney function and potassium levels.
The very next morning, the new results revealed his eGFR had fallen dramatically to 10 ml/min, and his potassium was dangerously close to 7 mEq/L. I immediately contacted the couple, urging them to go to the emergency room. He was admitted and ended up staying for a month as his condition required intensive care.
This intervention, prompted by reviewing the prescription and connecting it to lab results, likely prevented further harm. The wife’s unease pointed me to a deeper problem not obvious in the prescription alone. That day, what could have been a routine transaction turned into a critical moment of care.
Because of a pharmacist, something important happened.
