Numeta

When oral or enteral nutrition is not possible, insufficient or contraindicated, Numeta provides neonatal and pediatric patients specifically formulated nutritional support that could help reduce postnatal growth deficits and improve long-term growth outcomes.^1-4  Numeta PN bags are the first and only ready-to-use three-chamber bag (3CB) solutions for preterm neonates (Numeta G13), term infants and children up to 2 years (Numeta G16), and children older than 2 years through adolescence (Numeta G19).^1-3  They are designed to give the flexibility of administering PN with or without lipids and the ability to add micronutrients, supplements, and medications as needed.^1-3  Numeta may help reduce the risk of compounding errors, bloodstream infections, and medication errors that are seen with compounded PN.^4-5  

See full prescribing information for Numeta G13E
See full prescribing information for Numeta G16E
See full prescribing information for Numeta G19E

Poor nutrition in preterm infants and critically ill children is associated with higher mortality and can be detrimental for long-term growth.^{6, 7} For patients who cannot receive adequate nutrition orally or enterally, PN can be lifesaving.⁷ Because of its complexity, PN is classified as a “high-alert” medication with an increased risk of causing significant patient harm if provided incorrectly.⁸   

Current international guidelines recommend the use of standardized PN solutions in the majority of pediatric and newborn patients that require PN therapy.⁹ Standardized PN solutions help align nutritional intakes with guideline recommendations, helping to improve weight gain and avoid nutritional deficits.⁹ Commercial production of standard PN bags can assure better pharmaceutical control and better aseptic manufacturing conditions than the average hospital pharmacy.⁹ In an observational study to asses accuracy in compounding IV admixtures, commercially produced ready-to-use PN achieved an error rate <1%.¹⁰
 

A retrospective study found that Numeta G13 was associated with improved nutrient intakes and postnatal growth in very low-birthweight (VLBW) infants.¹² The use of Numeta G13 as a concentrated PN regime for VLBW infants showed improved weight and length gain during the first weeks of life with a persistent difference at 36 weeks post-menstrual age compared to infants given a pharmacy-prepared PN.¹² A separate study in VLBW infants showed that Numeta G13 was associated with improved protein intake and found a higher and faster likelihood of achieving protein target.¹³

According to a cost-consequences analysis, the increased use of ready-to-use 3CBs is associated with a decrease in adverse events and reduction in hospital labor, which can provide substantial resource and cost savings to the institution.⁵ These resources can be used to optimize hospital care in other areas. Across seven countries, there was an average of 2.9% savings to hospital budgets.⁵