Compounding I Flashcards
What is compounding?
Compounding is the process of combining or altering ingredients to create a medication
What are some unique characteristics about compounded drugs?
A traditional compounded drug is prepared by a pharmacist for an individual patient based on a prescription. Compounded drugs meet unique needs and are not FDA-approved. The dose or formulation cannot be commercially available as a manufactured product
What are the different types of compounding and how can they be divided?
Compounded drugs are either non-sterile or sterile. Both non-sterile and sterile compounded drugs can be further subdivided into non-hazardous and hazardous.
What determines if a drug is non-sterile or sterile?
The formulation of the compounded drug determines if it is non-sterile or sterile; the drug being used determines if the compound is deemed hazardous
What is the US Pharmacopeia (USP)?
The US Pharmacopeia (USP) sets the standards for compounding preparations
What are the USP chapters related to compounding?
USP 795 (non-sterile compounding), USP 797 (sterile compounding), USP 800 (handling hazardous drugs)
*USP 795, 797 and 800 are considered to be minimum acceptable standards for compounding by the FDA, the state boards of pharmacy and the Joint Commission
Which organization do hospital pharmacists rely on for detailed guidance on implementing USP standards?
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
What is non-sterile compounding primary used for?
Non-sterile compounding is primarily used to prepare a dose or formulation that is not commercially available (e.g. changing a tablet to a liquid, compounding a 10% ointment only available in 5% and 15%), avoid an excipient, add a flavor
What do non-sterile preparations include?
Non-sterile preparations include those administered by mouth, via tube, rectally, vaginally, topically, nasally or in the ear
How does USP 795 divide non-sterile compounding?
USP 795 divides non-sterile compounding into three categories based on complexity: simple, moderate, complex
What is the definition of simple non-sterile compounding?
Requires (simply) following instructions (e.g. following a USP monograph)
What is the definition of moderate non-sterile compounding?
Involves specialized calculations or procedures, or making a preparation that has no established stability data
What is the definition of complex non-sterile compounding?
Requires specialized training, equipment, facilities, or procedures
Describe the physical space basics of the non-sterile compounding space.
- Specifically designated for compounding
- Can be performed in room air but must be separated from the dispensing part of the pharmacy
- Adequate space is needed to avoid mix-ups and should include shelving and storage
- All components, equipment and containers should be stored off the floor
- Heating, ventilations and air conditioning systems must be controlled to avoid drug deterioration
- The sink must be easily accessible, be clean and be emptied of items unrelated to compounding. Soap, detergent and a sanitary method of drying hands should be available
What are the two types of water needed available for non-sterile compounding?
1) Portable (drinkable, such as from the tap), for hand and equipment washing
2) Purified (e.g. distilled), for use in water-containing formulations, and for rinsing equipment and utensils
How must sterile compounding be carried out?
Sterile compounding must be carried out using strict procedures to keep products free from contamination. Drugs injected into the blood or administered into certain other body sites must be free of microorganisms and contaminants
What is sterile compounding used to prepare for?
Intravenous (IV) drugs, intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SC, SQ) drugs, radiopharmaceuticals, eye drops, irrigations, pulmonary inhalations
What is the meaning of BSC?
Biological safety cabinet: chemo hood, a type of C-PEC
What is the meaning of CACI?
Compounding aseptic containment isolator: “glovebox” for HDs, a type of closed-front C-PEC
What is the meaning of CAI?
Compounding aseptic isolator: “glovebox” for non-HDs, a closed-front sterile hood (PEC)
What is the meaning of C-PEC?
Containment primary engineering control: ventilated (negative pressure) chemo hood used for HDs
What is the meaning of C-SCA?
Containment segregated compounding area: ventilated (negative pressure) room used for HDs; not in a cleanroom suit (air is not ISO-rated)
What is the meaning of C-SEC?
Containment secondary engineering control: ventilated (negative pressure) buffer room for HDs (room where the C-PEC is located)
What is the meaning of CSPs?
Compounded sterile products: IVs or other drugs that require sterile manipulation
What is the meaning of CSTD?
Closed system transfer device: device preventing escape of HD/vapors when transferring (e.g. from a vial to a syringe)
What is the meaning of CVE?
Containment ventilated enclosure: ventilated “powder hood” for non-sterile products (can be used for HDs if USP 800 standards are met)
What is the meaning of LAFW?
Laminar airflow workbench: type of sterile hood (PEC); parallel air streams flow in one direction
What is the meaning of LVP?
Large volume parenteral: IV bag or container containing > 100 mL
What is the meaning of PEC?
Primary engineering control: sterile hood that provides ISO 5 air for compounding
What is the meaning of PPE?
Personal protective equipment: Garb
What is the meaning of RABS?
Restricted access barrier system: “glovebox”/closed-front sterile hood (includes CAIs and CACIs)
What is the meaning of SCA?
Segregated compounding area: designated space that contains an ISO 5 hood but is not part of a cleanroom suite (air is not ISO-rated)
What is the meaning of SEC?
Secondary engineering control: ISO 7 “buffer room” where the sterile hood is located
What is the meaning of SVP?
Small volume parenteral: IV bag or container containing < 100 mL
What is the International Standards Organization (ISO)?
The International Standards Organization (ISO) sets the standards for air quality, which is determined by the number and size of particles per volume of air. The lower the particle count, the cleaner the air
In critical areas that are closest to exposed sterile drugs and containers, what must the air quality be?
ISO 5
What does ISO 5 mean?
This means that there are no more than 3,520 particles per cubic meter. Particles are included in this count if they are 0.5 microns or larger
What must the air quality of the buffer area (the SEC, which contains PECs) be?
At least ISO 7
What must the air quality be in the anteroom (the room adjacent to the SEC, where handwashing and garbing occurs)?
At least ISO 8 if it opens into a positive-pressure buffer area or at least ISO 7 if it opens into a negative-pressure buffer area
What does ISO 7 mean?
This means that there are no more than 352,000 particles per cubic meter
What does ISO 8 mean?
This means that there are no more than 3,520,000 particles per cubic meter
What are high-efficiency particular air (HEPA) filters?
High-efficiency particular air (HEPA) filters pick up particles when the air runs through the filter. HEPA filters are > 99.97% efficient in removing particles as small as 0.3 microns wide or larger, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and dust
Where is the HEPA filter in a vertical airflow biological safety cabinet (BSC) or C-PEC?
The HEPA filter is at the top of the sterile hood
Where is the HEPA filter in a laminar airflow workbench (LAFW) or PEC?
The HEPA filter is at the back of the sterile hood (horizontal airflow)
How often must a HEPA filter be recertified?
The HEPA filter must be recertified by a specialist every 6 months and anytime a PEC has been moved
What is the first air?
The air coming directly out of the HEPA filter is called the first air, which is cleaner than the rest of the air in the sterile hood
What is the recommendation to prevent contamination when preparing a sterile product?
- To prevent contamination of CSPs during compounding, the injection port of the vial and the syringe needle must be kept in the first air
- Do not obstruct first air, especially the area where the needle enters the vial or ampule
- Do not block airflow from the HEPA filter with hands or supplies
- Place items correctly inside the PEC to avoid creating turbulence, which can lead to contamination of the CSPs
What are the recommendations in keep the air in the PEC clean?
- Wipe off the outside of all materials (e.g. vials, syringes) with 70% IPA before bringing them into the PEC
- Open packages along the designated tear line, if present; do not rip open the packages or punch needles or syringes through the wrappers which contaminates the air with particles
- Compound at least 6 inches inside the sterile hood to prevent exposing CSPs to dirtier ISO 7 air from the SEC
- Move waste of the PEC shortly after it is created; do not let it accumulate inside the sterile hood
What should the air pressure be for non-hazardous compounding?
The air pressure inside the PEC and SEC are both positive since the air will not cause toxicity if it moves into adjacent spaces. Positive air pressure helps protect the compounded sterile products (CSPs) from contamination
What should the air pressure be for hazardous compounding?
With hazardous compounding, the containment PEC (C-PEC) and the containment SEC (C-SEC) must have negative pressure to contain and exhaust the toxic air in the space. Negative air pressure protects the compounding staff
What are the physical space basics of sterile compounding?
- Surfaces of ceilings, walls, floors, fixtures, shelving, counters and cabinets must be smooth, impervious and free from cracks and crevices to make them easy to clean and disinfect
- Stainless steel equipment is often used
What is a cleanroom suite?
One or more sterile hoods (ISO 5 PECs) inside an ISO 7 buffer room (SEC) that is entered through an adjacent anteroom
What is in a segregated compounding area (SCA)?
Segregated compounding area (SCA) with an ISO 5 PEC: a sterile hood, often an isolator (glovebox) with a closed front located in a segregated space with unclassified air
What is the primary engineering control (PEC)?
The PEC is a device or room that provides an ISO 5 environment for sterile compounding
What must PECs used for non-sterile compounding have?
PECs used for non-hazardous sterile compounding have HEPA-filtered air and positive air pressure, to protect the CSPs from contamination, and are not externally ventilated
What is a laminar airflow workbench?
A laminar airflow workbench (LAFW) is an open-front PEC where air flows out in parallel lines from the HEPA filter, typically from the back of the hood
What does laminar airflow do?
Laminar airflow keeps the cleaner air in the PEC from mixing with the dirtier air in the buffer room and keeps particles from colliding with each other and landing on the DCA surface or CSPs
What is a compounding aseptic isolator (CAI)?
A compounding aseptic isolator is a closed-front PEC that can be located in a buffer room (SEC), but is often located in a segregated compounding area (SCA). The closed front keeps the unclassified room air around it from mixing with the clean air inside the PEC
What is required when compounding in a CAI?
Garb required when compounding in a CAI depends on the manufacturer’s instructions, but minimally hand hygiene must be performed and sterile, powder-free gloves should be used inside the CAI (placed over the long gloves attached to the isolator)
What is the secondary engineering control (SEC)?
The SEC is the room that contains PEC or multiple PECs. The SEC is commonly called the buffer area or buffer room because it provides a “buffer” of relatively clean air (ISO 7) around the PEC (ISO 5)
What is the anteroom?
The anteroom connects the rest of the pharmacy to the buffer room (SEC). It contains a sink, cabinets and benches to facilitate garbing and preparation for garbing
What is the line of demarcation?
Running down the center of the anteroom is a large visible line called the line of demarcation, which separates the room into clean and dirty sections
Which is considered the dirty side of the anteroom and the clean side of the anteroom?
The side closest to the other areas of the pharmacy is considered to be the dirty side of the anteroom. The side of the anteroom closest to the buffer room is considered to be the clean side
When should shoe covers, handwashing and donning be applied?
Shoe covers must be applied one at a time while stepping over the demarcation line, placing the covered shoe on the clean side. Handwashing and donning of the gown occur on the clean side of the anteroom
What happens when a compounded sterile product is needed stat?
If a sterile product is compounded under suboptimal conditions for sterility, the CSP will have a very short BUD of 1 hour, after which the drug can no longer be used and must be discarded
What is a segregated compounding area (SCA)?
An SCA is an option when a cleanroom is not able to be installed. It is a designated area with unclassified air. It does not have a buffer area or anteroom and can only be used for certain (low-risk)
What is the maximum beyond use date for a CSP made in an SCA?
12 hours
When is having a SCA useful?
SCAs are useful for satellite pharmacies that are a distance away from the main pharmacy in a large hospital, for infusion centers, clinics and small hospitals
Where can an SCA NOT be located?
SCAs cannot be located adjacent to food preparation, warehouses, construction sites, or unsealed windows/doors near busy areas
What are hazardous drugs?
Hazardous drugs can cause toxicity to the healthcare workers who handle them in any manner, including unloading the drugs in the receiving dock, stocking the shelves, preparing the drugs in the pharmacy, administering the drugs to a patient and obtaining and cleaning up body fluids that contain hazardous drug residues