Articles

Weighing the Options for Optimal Chapter <797> ComplianceApril 7, 2010

  Weighing the Options for Optimal Chapter <797> ComplianceComplying with the USP 797 (http://www.usp.org/products/797Guidebook/)sterile compounding regulations for IV preparation, there are three basic options for preventing contaminati...
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Using PPE to Prevent Occupational exposure to Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous DrugsMarch 16, 2010

 Antineoplastic drugs comprise the largest group of drugs considered hazardous by NIOSH (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/), OSHA (http://www.osha.gov/ and ASHP (http://www.ashp.org/). They affect cell growth and proliferation, either by binding directl...
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Assessing Vial Transfer Devices for Handling Hazardous DrugsFebruary 26, 2010

In summary, occupational exposure to hazardous drugs is a serious concern for healthcare professionals.  Exposure is minimized though the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), proper compounding techniques and drug administration pr...
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Spread the Word: Aseptic Technique Prevents InfectionFebruary 18, 2010

In summary, "Targeting Zero" contamination initiative has been created by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC) (http://http://www.apic.org/) to prevent the most common and fatal healthcare-associated infections (htt...
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Preventing Exposure to Hazardous Drugs: Engineering-control recommendations in the NIOSH AlertMay 24, 2007

In summary, in 2004 NIOSH published an alert titled "Preventing Occupational exposures to Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Health Care Settings". The data reveals evidence of health effects such as skin rashes, developmental and ...
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Cleaning Compounding Aseptic Isolators and Class II Biological Safety CabinetsMarch 16, 2007

In summary, the Compounding Aseptic Isolators (CAIs) are used to physically isolate compounded sterile preparations (CSPs) from contamination from the background environment and to protect compounding personnel from contamination from hazardous drugs...
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ASHP Urges More Control Over Sterile CompoundingMarch 9, 2007

In summary, recent episode involving contaminated heart-surgery solutions from an outsourcing firm implicated in nearly a dozen illnesses and three deaths at a Virginia Hospital has caught the eye of USA Today.The ASHP has called for more active...
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A Review of USP's Updates to chapter <797>March 1, 2007

In summary the publication of USP Chapter <797> provides pharmacy's first required and legally enforcebale compounding standard of practise. A number of state boards of pharmacy changed their regulations as a result, and JCAHO inform...
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Effect of Personal Protection Equipment Utilizing Compounding Aseptic IsolatorsFebruary 27, 2007

This study was done in 2006 by D. Brown, A. Nace and R. Bercume from the department of Pharmacy Services at the UMass Memorial Medical Center, in Worcester, Massachusetts to demonstrate the effect of personnel cleansing and PPE while compou...
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JCHO's StatementDecember 11, 2006

At the December 2005 Midyear Clinical Meeting of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Darryl Rich, PharmD., a surveyor for the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Hospital Organization ("Joint Commission"), gave a present...
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USP 797 Revised Regulation-Chemo CompoundingMay 18, 2006

The USP 797 revised May  edition states the following that hazardous drugs shall be prepared in ISO Class 5 environment with protective engineering controls in place, and following aseptic practises specified for the appropriate contamination ri...
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USP 797 Revised Regulation-Sterile CompoundingMay 12, 2006

The USP 797 May revised edition states that all Pharmacies who are doing sterile compounding will have to place their primary engineering controls (LAFWs, BSCs and CAIs) within a restricted access Iso Class 7 buffer area within a clean room with...
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Barrier isolators as an alternative to a cleanroomDecember 20, 2005

The use of barrier isolators as an alternative to a cleanroom for the preparation of sterile products at ASHP-defined risk levels 2 and 3 and cytotoxic and hazardous drugs is described. The two isolators selected provide enclosed microenvironments. T...
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