Are We Compatible?

Tonight I was hanging two IV antibiotics, Vancomycin and Cefepime. The order said to administer them at the same time to the same patient.

I assumed this order meant that they were compatible.

I then prepared to administer the antibiotics, a procedure I have repeated many a time:

I reconstituted the antibiotics and primed them into the same tubing.

I called my instructor and walked into the patients room.

I hung up the med on the IV pole and cleaned the PICC (central IV) with alcohol.

"So, these antibiotics are compatible, right?" said my instructor. It sounded like an afterthought, something she was slightly hesitant to ask because it was so obvious.

My hand holding the IV tubing connection stopped abruptly, inches before it connected to the port.

"Hmm, actually I haven't checked."

It turns out they were NOT compatible.

Dang, I got lucky tonight.