The safety of multi-dose vials in allergy immunotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively evaluate the risks of vial contamination after routine clinical use of multiple-dose vials for immunotherapy.


METHODS
Prospective observational study of immunotherapy vial cultures from June 2007 to January 2008.


METHODS
Tertiary care outpatient otolaryngology clinic.


RESULTS
Over an 8-month period, 136 consecutive vials were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria at the 3-month expiration date after regular use in an outpatient allergy clinic and dispensation of multiple doses of injection immunotherapy from each vial. All vials had negative cultures.


CONCLUSIONS
Immunotherapy vials are at low risk to undergo contamination in routine use. Important factors include aseptic technique, bacteriostatic agents, and expiration dating.
Lin
Sandra Y
SY
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Slin30@jhmi.edu
Lay
P Chase
PC
Hughes
Larry F
LF
Bass
Richard
R
D004340:Drug Contamination; D004349:Drug Packaging; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment