From the Guidelines
When a patient develops a disease as a result of medical treatment, it is called an iatrogenic condition or iatrogenic illness. Iatrogenic conditions can occur from various medical interventions, including medications, surgeries, or diagnostic procedures. Examples include:
- Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
- Surgical site infections
- Medication side effects or interactions
- Hospital-acquired infections To minimize iatrogenic conditions, healthcare providers should:
- Practice evidence-based medicine
- Carefully consider risks and benefits of treatments
- Maintain strict hygiene and sterilization protocols
- Monitor patients closely for adverse effects Patients should be informed about potential risks of treatments and encouraged to report any new symptoms promptly, as seen in studies such as 1, which highlights the importance of recognizing and managing immune-related adverse events. Understanding iatrogenic conditions is crucial for improving patient safety and healthcare quality, as it emphasizes the importance of careful medical decision-making and the potential unintended consequences of medical interventions, as noted in 1 and 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The most serious risks associated with anticoagulant therapy with warfarin sodium are hemorrhage in any tissue or organ12 (see BLACK BOX WARNING) and, less frequently (<0. 1%), necrosis and/or gangrene of skin and other tissues. Necrosis appears to be associated with local thrombosis and usually appears within a few days of the start of anticoagulant therapy In severe cases of necrosis, treatment through debridement or amputation of the affected tissue, limb, breast or penis has been reported. Careful diagnosis is required to determine whether necrosis is caused by an underlying disease. Warfarin therapy should be discontinued when warfarin is suspected to be the cause of developing necrosis and heparin therapy may be considered for anticoagulation
The term for a disease that develops as a result of medical treatment, also known as iatrogenic (induced by medical examination or treatment) disease, is iatrogenic disease or adverse reaction. In the context of warfarin therapy, examples of iatrogenic diseases include:
- Necrosis and/or gangrene of skin and other tissues
- Hemorrhage in any tissue or organ
- Systemic cholesterol microembolization, including the "purple toes syndrome" These conditions are potential complications of anticoagulant therapy with warfarin sodium tablets 2, 2, 2.
From the Research
Definition of Iatrogenic Disease
- Iatrogenic disease refers to a condition that develops as a result of medical treatment, which can be potentially preventable by improvements to patient care 3.
- The term "iatrogenic" is commonly used to denote medical error, but it has a more fundamental meaning in the context of critical illness, where it describes the adverse consequences of therapeutic and supportive interventions 3.
- Iatrogeny can result from an adverse effect associated with either healthcare workers or the healthcare system, affecting both psychological and physical conditions, and can be classified into "iatropsychogeny" and "iatrosomatopathy" 4.
Types of Iatrogenic Disease
- Iatrogenic anemia is a condition of lowered hematocrit and hemoglobin count resulting from large or frequent removal of blood samples for laboratory testing 5.
- Iatrogenic disease in the elderly can be caused by drug-induced iatrogenic disease, multiple chronic diseases, multiple physicians, hospitalization, and medical or surgical procedures 6.
Prevention and Consequences
- Most iatrogenic diseases are preventable, and identifying patients at high risk is the first step in prevention 6.
- Interventions that can prevent iatrogenic complications include specific interventions, the use of a geriatric interdisciplinary team, pharmacist consultation, and acute care for the elderly units 6.
- Iatrogenic injury can have significant consequences, including harm to patients, and can lead to medical malpractice lawsuits, even if the injury was not caused by negligence 7.