[Recommendations for the safety preparation of sterile medicines in medical wards].
OBJECTIVE
To develop a recommendations guide about the preparation of sterile medicines in medical wards, and to figure out the current situation of different Spanish hospitals, regarding the preparation of sterile medicines outside the pharmacy.


METHODS
The authors reviewed the available international guidelines in order to summarize the main quality recommendations. To know about the current situation in Spanish hospitals, a 30 questions survey was designed and spread to 500 different hospitals. Answers were analysed with SurveyMonkey® platform in the period February-July 2012.


RESULTS
Based on the literature review, the authors agreed a recommendations list for the safe preparation of sterile medicines in medical wards, which was structured in 8 sections. Regarding the survey results, 8.4% of the hospitals answered, showing a great variability among centres in the quality requirements for sterile compounding outside the pharmacy. It should be pointed out the lack of assigned areas for drug preparation in wards, the lack of protocols to discern which kind of medicines can be compounded in wards as well as the poor recommendations about garment and aseptic technique.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors confirm the absence of qualified practice standards to be applied in the preparation of sterile medicines in medical wards, as well as the great variability of diary practice. The implementation of quality and safety recommendations in the preparation of sterile medicines in medical wards may contribute to improve patient safety.
Servicio de Farmacia. Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón. Madrid.. mclopez1@clinic.ub.es.
Ana M
AM
Martín de Rosales Cabrera
Carmen
C
López Cabezas
M Sagrario
MS
Pernía López
Carmela
C
Dávila Pousa
M Nieves
MN
Vila Clérigues
José María
JM
Alonso Herreros
Pedro
P
García Salom
Ana
A
Lozano Blázquez
D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000592:standards*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000592:standards*; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D012449:Safety; D013242:Sterilization / Q000592:standards*
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations