The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is informing patients and healthcare providers about the potential for overdose, under certain clinical use conditions, when using ENFit low dose tip (LDT) syringes according to a safety communication.
The FDA is aware of the potential for overdose if the user does not clear the moat area around the tip of the ENFit LDT syringe before administering a medication. The moat area is unique to the design of the ENFit LDT syringes. The FDA is providing recommendations for patients and healthcare providers to promote the safe use of ENFit LDT syringes, including steps users can take to optimize dose accuracy.
To optimize dose accuracy using ENFit LDT syringes, users should:
- Ensure the syringe is free of air bubbles and the moat of the syringe is free from fluids by tapping or flicking the tip of the syringe before administering the medication.
- Use a filling adapter, such as an ENFit compatible cap or medication straw, to prevent fluid and medications from entering the moat area of the syringe tip.
- Be aware that using a medicine cup to fill may cause fluid or medications to enter the moat of the syringe and lead to possible overdose.
- Use a new syringe to flush the medication or fluid after administering any medication to prevent overdose due to the dead space (remaining fluid in the tip of the syringe after administration) in the syringe.
The FDA continues to recommend the use of enteral devices and syringes that reduce the risk of misconnections, such as ENFit LDT syringes.
To reduce the risk of misconnections and serious patient injuries and death, the FDA recommends use of enteral devices with connectors that meet the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Disclaimer 80369-1 or ISO 80369-3 standard or that are otherwise designed to reduce the risk of misconnections. There are currently marketed enteral connectors that follow the ISO 80369-3 standards, many of which are identified by the tradename ENFit.
ENFit LDT syringes are generally used to: Deliver fluids, like medicine, either orally or through the gastrointestinal tract (enterally) into the body and Dispense, measure, or transfer fluids.
ENFit LDT syringes are manufactured and distributed by several manufacturers in syringe sizes between 0.5 mL and 6 mL. The syringe has a gasket, a plunger, and a barrel, with a low dose tip designed to be compatible only with enteral connectors that follow the ISO 80369-3 standard. They are used in all age groups (adults and pediatrics, including neonates) in a variety of settings, including clinical settings by a healthcare provider or in home settings by patients and caregivers.
The FDA received a complaint about ENFit LDT syringes and the potential for overdose if the moat area around the tip of the syringe was not cleared prior to administering a medication. The FDA has not received reports of injuries associated with medication overdose from the moat area of ENFit LDT syringes.
The FDA believes when using the steps provided above to optimize dose accuracy, the dose accuracy of ENFit LDT syringes is equivalent to the dose accuracy of traditional syringes.
In addition, the FDA reviewed the device labeling for ENFit LDT syringes provided by several manufacturers. Based on this review, the FDA determined that while some manufacturers included adequate information about the potential for overdose and steps users can take to optimize dose accuracy to prevent overdose, not all manufacturers included this information or the information they provided may be incomplete. Accordingly, the FDA sent letters to these manufacturers (see FDA Actions below).
While the FDA’s analysis has identified a potential for overdose using ENFit LDT syringes, no patient injuries have been reported. In contrast, serious patient injuries and deaths have been reported due to misconnections. Therefore, the FDA continues to recommend the use of enteral devices and syringes that reduce the risk of misconnections, such as ENFit LDT syringes.
