Potential for microbial contamination of ADD-Vantage admixtures.
OBJECTIVE
To test for potential bacterial contamination of the ADD-Vantage system when the components are assembled in various hospital environments.


METHODS
One hundred fifty ADD-Vantage units were assembled by three different people in three separate locations within a hospital. Each person assembled ten units per day; the study spanned five days. After 72 hours of incubation, units were inspected for evidence of contamination.


METHODS
ADD-Vantage units were assembled by a pharmacist in a laminar-flow hood, a pharmacy student using the pharmacy counter, and a nurse at a patient's bedside table. Personnel at each site wore their regular work attire. Each person observed handwashing techniques normally used during routine working hours.


METHODS
Positive results were sent to the hospital microbiology laboratory for determination of growth type.


RESULTS
After 72 hours, none of the systems exhibited microbial growth on visual inspection. No differences in microbial contamination of the ADD-Vantage systems relative to assembly site, day of assembly, or person performing the assembly were observed. The incidence of contamination was calculated at less than seven percent.


CONCLUSIONS
There is minimal risk of bacterial contamination when ADD-Vantage systems are compounded either on a pharmacy counter or at a patient's bedside. Larger samples must be studied in order to detect differences in the incidence of contamination among assembly sites.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock.
T J
TJ
Hudson
E M
EM
Ambroziak
R M
RM
Coley
D002927:Cimetidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards*; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000379:methods; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D004340:Drug Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D010362:Patients' Rooms; D010595:Pharmacists; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D014481:United States