David G. Miller, RPh
SAFETY
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O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | J U LY 2 0 1 4
Can You Trust Your Compounding Lab?
How to evaluate the companies that compound sterile drugs.
G
iven the deadly meningitis outbreak of a couple years ago that
was traced to a compounding pharmacy that was anything but
sterile, it might sound funny to hear me say that custom com-
pounding labs are critical to safe surgical care. But it's true.
Compounders supply surgical facilities of all sizes with key medica-
tions that are discontinued, back-ordered, recalled or not manufac-
tured in the strength or form that you require.
In the mix
Take epinephrine 1:1000, for example, which is no longer manufac-
tured as both a preservative-free and sulfite-free formulation. You can
only get it as such through your compounder. Then there are drug
shortages to consider. Must-have crash cart meds like atropine and
FEDERAL DRUG SAFETY New legislation gives the Food and Drug
Administration regulatory authority over compounding pharmacies.
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