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Abstract:  In pharmaceutical compounding, strict adherence to a protocol for hand hygiene and glove sanitizing is essential to ensure the purity, safety, and effectiveness of sterile preparations; reduce patient morbidity and mortality; and decrease the cost of health care. Alcohols and chlorhexidine gluconate are among the most effective bactericides, virucides, and fungicides, and acquired resistance to those agents has not been shown in clinical practice. This article, which is part 1 in a series of 2, pertains primarily to alcohol-based hand rubs that are appropriate for use in sterile compounding (glove sanitizing is discussed as part of the handsanitizing process). In a brief overview of those products, we define pertinent terminology, examine the necessity of and requirements for the use of sanitizers, review their mechanism of action and composition, consider factors pertinent to their selection, and present a protocol for their application. In part 2 of this series, the topics examined include a comparison of various alcohol-based sanitizers and answers to compounders’ frequently asked questions about their use.

Related Keywords: Nicole M.H. Greeson, MS, CIH, William Mixon, RPh, MS, FIACP, FACA, Kirk Huslage, MSPH, BSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC, Matthew A. Stiegel, PhD, MSPH, Wayne R. Thomann, DrPH, hand hygiene, glove sterilization, compounded sterile preparations, bactericides, virucides, fungicides, alcohols, chlorhexidine gluconate, hand sanitizers, drug safety, microbial contaminants, pathogen contamination, aseptic formulations, United States Pharmacopeia, USP, sterile gloves, handwashing, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, World Health Organization surgical hand rub method, hand and glove sanitization protocol

Related Categories: ENVIRONMENTAL , STERILE PREPARATIONS, QUALITY CONTROL

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