title: Stability of piperacillin and ticarcillin in AutoDose infusion system bags.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the physical and chemical stability of piperacillin sodium 3 and 4 g/100 mL and ticarcillin disodium 3 g/100 mL each admixed in NaCl 0.9% injection packaged in AutoDose Infusion System bags.
  
  
  METHODS
  Triplicate test samples of the penicillin antibiotics in NaCl 0.9% injection were packaged in ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) plastic containers, AutoDose bags, designed for use in the AutoDose Infusion System. Samples were stored protected from light and evaluated at appropriate intervals for up to seven days at 23 degrees C and up to 30 days at 4 degrees C. Physical stability was assessed using turbidimetric and particulate measurement as well as visual inspection. Chemical stability was assessed by HPLC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the penicillin admixtures initially were clear when viewed in normal fluorescent room light and with a Tyndall beam. Measured turbidity and particulate content were low initially and exhibited little change in the ticarcillin disodium samples throughout the study. The piperacillin sodium samples exhibited small increases in measured haze throughout the study, but no accompanying increase in particulates > or = 1.04 microm was found. All samples were essentially colorless throughout the study. HPLC analysis found some decomposition in the samples. Piperacillin sodium exhibited a 9-10% loss after five days at 23 degrees C. In the samples stored at 4 degrees C, piperacillin sodium exhibited acceptable stability through 21 days of storage, but losses exceeded 10% after 30 days. Ticarcillin disodium exhibited a 7% loss after three days, but 14% after five days at 23 degrees C. Less than 7% loss occurred after 21 days, but 12% loss after 30 days at 4 degrees C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Piperacillin sodium and ticarcillin disodium exhibited physical and chemical stability consistent with previous studies on these drugs. The AutoDose Infusion System bags were not found to adversely affect the physical and chemical stability of these penicillin antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacy, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030-4095, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Trissel
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004349:Drug Packaging; D004355:Drug Stability; D004356:Drug Storage; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D010878:Piperacillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013982:Ticarcillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins; D013982:Ticarcillin; D010878:Piperacillin