ALERT:

Incorrect Bicillin dosing when reprinting scripts for Bicillin 900mg/2.3ml in Best Practice software

Information for General Practitioners

The South Australian Rheumatic Heart disease register has advised of a significant medication error caused by a glitch in Best Practice software and reprinting of scripts for clients receiving Bicillin LA injections for acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) every 21-28 days.  
 
If Bicillin LA 900mg/2.3ml is listed in the list of current medication and  you select represcribe – it alerts you that this medication is no longer in the system
HOWEVER
If Bicillin LA 900mg/2ml is listed in the list of current medication and you select reprint – It reprints as Bicillin LA 600, 000u/1.17ml INSTEAD of the correct dose of 1,200,000u/2.3ML.
 
All clinics using Best Practice are advised of potential implications for patients on Bicillin LA as penicillin prophylaxis for acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

All clinics should remove any old Bicillin 900mg/2.3ml from the current list of medications and replace it with Bicillin LA 1,200,000u/2.3ml for people >20kg or Bicillin LA 600,000u/1.17ml for people <20kg

Best Practice has been alerted to this issue.
For any additional enquiries contact Kylie McKenna from Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) Program, Queensland - kylie.mckenna2@health.qld.gov.au 

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