When compounding or medication preparation takes place outside of pharmacy, there is a key opportunity for pharmacy to take a leadership role in ensuring that proper aseptic technique is followed.

While fewer nurses are compounding/preparing medications on the floor, those that do so are generally not receiving the proper training from pharmacy, and even fewer are conducting annual media fills to verify their aseptic technique. Of the few facilities that are requiring annual media fills, 24% report contamination in up to 50% of the completed media fills.

Just as pharmacy has recognized the value of enlisting the expertise of other departments—including infection control and risk management—in the quest for <797> compliance, it is time for pharmacy to share its expertise with the floor staff to address the issue of improper aseptic technique.