6/17/2013
In the aftermath of last year’s compounding tragedy at the New England
Compounding Center that caused the deaths of 48 people and sickened hundreds
more, the American Journal of Health-System
Pharmacy (AJHP) has published an article that examines the evolution of
sterile compounding in the U.S. and explores what measures are needed to better
ensure the safety of compounded products. The article is being published
online, ahead of print, because of its significant contributions to this current
public health issue.
In his article, History
of Sterile Compounding in U.S. Hospitals: Learning from the Tragic Lessons of
the Past, Charles E. Myers, M.S., M.B.A., gives a detailed history of the
milestones and innovations that have influenced sterile compounding practices in
the U.S., including technological advances in the preparation and administration
of compounded products, the impact of Medicare reimbursement policies and drug
shortages. Myers also examines the role of education and training, reference
materials and clinical and professional guidelines and standards published by
professional pharmacy organizations, and laws and regulations.
Myers concludes with a thought-provoking exploration of what future
innovations and processes, as well as potential hazards, should be considered by
experts who are working to improve the safety of sterile compounding. These
considerations include:
- The importance of avoiding complacency,
- The need for unrelenting attention to ensuring sterility,
- The future role of education and training,
- The introduction of national public health goals related to sterile compounding,
- The role of professional pharmacy organizations,
- The threat and pressure of drug shortages, and
- The importance of developing new methods of sterilization and testing for final preparations.
Myers calls for “innovative thinking,” as well as a “systematic assessment
of the nature and the dimensions of the problems in every type of setting where
sterile compounding occurs.”
In addition, AJHP is concurrently publishing a related article, Description
of Outbreaks of Health-Care-Associated Infections Related to Compounding
Pharmacies, 2000-12, by Catherine Staes, M.P.H., Ph.D.; Jason Jacobs;
Jeanmarie Mayer, M.D.; and Jill Allen, Pharm.D., BCPS, that studies outbreaks of
infections related to sterile compounding in the U.S. over the last 12 years in
an effort to discover factors that may hinder outbreak detection.
About ASHP
ASHP is the national professional organization whose
40,000 members include pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy students
who provide patient care services in hospitals, health systems, and ambulatory
clinics. For 70 years, the Society has been on the forefront of efforts to
improve medication use and enhance patient safety. For more information about
the wide array of ASHP activities and the many ways in which pharmacists help
people make the best use of medicines, visit ASHP's website, www.ashp.org, or its consumer website, www.safemedication.com
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