Parenterals laboratory course to reduce microbial contamination rates in media fill tests performed by pharmacy students.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate microbial contamination rates of low- and medium-risk level media fill tests performed by pharmacy students near the beginning and end of a parenterals laboratory course in the second- professional year of a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program.


METHODS
Students enrolled in a required parenterals laboratory class (N = 84) participated in this study. The aseptic technique procedures performed at the beginning of the course were identical to the procedures performed at the end of the course and included 3 low-risk level media-fill tests and a medium-risk level media-fill test. Single-strength trypticase-soy broth (TSB) was substituted for the drug and was used to detect microbial contamination for all manipulations.


RESULTS
The baseline and end-of-course contamination rate was 21 of 504 syringes and 0 of 498 syringes, respectively (p < 0.001). Eighteen of 84 students at baseline and 0 of 83 students near the end of the course produced one or more contaminated syringes (p < 0.001). Of the 21 contaminated syringes at baseline, low-risk manipulations accounted for 14 and medium-risk manipulations accounted for 7. Of the low-risk procedures, the ampule produced the highest contamination rate (11 syringes), followed by the vial (2 syringes) and the reconstitution (1 syringe).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated a decreased rate of microbial contamination during the manipulation of parenteral products and a corresponding improvement in aseptic technique skills among pharmacy students enrolled in a parenterals laboratory course. The most sensitive tests for poor aseptic technique and bacterial contamination were medium-risk manipulations and low-risk manipulations involving an ampule.
Isanhart
Christine M
CM
School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA.
McCall
Kenneth L
KL
Kretschmer
Diane
D
Grimes
Barbie A
BA
D001207:Asepsis / Q000379:methods; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D004340:Drug Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004512:Education, Pharmacy; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000592:standards; D011786:Quality Control; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D013594:Syringes / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors