An audit of staff knowledge of Royal College of Radiologists current recommendations on the management of mild to severe contrast medium reactions [QSI Ref: XR-513]

An audit designed to ensure that all staff know how to manage the range of mild to severe contrast medium reactions.

Contrast medium reactions are common. While many reactions are mild, less common, life-threatening reactions require immediate specific and non-specific management.

The Royal College of Radiology has endorsed the 2016 RANZCR Iodinated Contrast Guidelines which make recommendations (amongst others) for the management of the following scenarios:

• Urticaria - mild or moderate

• Bronchospasm

• Hypotension +/- bradycardia

• Respiratory or circulatory collapse and/ or seizures

The standard: 

All staff answer correctly key questions on management of contrast reactions.

Target: 

100% of all staff answer 100% of the key questions correctly.

Indicators: 

Proportion of staff attaining 100% in quiz.

Data items to be collected: 

1. Answers sheets from a quiz (suggested quiz attached) with allotted marks

2. Summary of answer sheets expressing proportion of staff that passed

Suggested number: 

All frontline staff in a department, particularly those administering contrast media - this will vary from department to department.

• Presentation to all clinical staff on these guidelines

• Staff then retake quiz after a suitable interval

1. 2016 RANZCR Iodinated Contrast Guidelines (updated 2018) https://www.ranzcr.com/college/document-library/ranzcr-iodinated-contrast-guidelines

2. Emergency treatment of anaphylactic reactions Resuscitation Council (UK) 2008  https://www.resus.org.uk/anaphylaxis/emergency-treatment-of-anaphylactic-reactions/

Dr David Tennant. Updated by K A Duncan