Sodium Phos with a filter?

[msjack]

I've recently come back into hospital nursing after a year doing home health and the new hospital I work at runs sodium phos with a filter? Is this standard practice at other hospitals? I just don't remember ever doing this. If this is standard practice, I'm just curious as to why. The only things I remember using filters or filter tubing with is tpn and blood products. Just curious what your all experience is? Thanks!

[Laurie52]

I've recently come back into hospital nursing after a year doing home health and the new hospital I work at runs sodium phos with a filter? Is this standard practice at other hospitals? I just don't remember ever doing this. If this is standard practice I'm just curious as to why. The only things I remember using filters or filter tubing with is tpn and blood products. Just curious what your all experience is? Thanks![/quote']

Yes,it is now standard practice. It has to do with the current manufacturing method for the medication.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

There are a number of fairly widely given IV infusions that should utilize a filter -- amiodarone and phenytoin are two examples. Many resources out there -- start with your hospital's pharmacy.

[PediLove2147, BSN, RN]

We don't use a filter with sodium phos at my facility so not necessarily standard.

[MunoRN, RN]

I've never heard of it being a general rule. However due to the shortage that's occurring currently there is a manufacturer (American Regent) that recommends filtering their sodium phos product because it lacks a stabilizing agent (they're having to import it for the time being), until domestic supplies are back on line. This Pharmacy update says the need to filter American Regent products is due to glass in the product, although the company's own practice alert says it's a temporary measure due to lack of shelf stability of the product they are having to use temporarily.

[msjack]

Thanks for the input everyone. It's interesting to hear what other hospitals are doing. The two other drugs mentioned above I've never hung as I don't work on a unit that does drips. I work in oncology so the drugs we use often with filters are fairly limited. Thanks again.

[NurseKatie08, MSN]

We use filtered tubing for sodium phos at my hospital.