The Hospital Pharmacist: An Important Contributor to Improved Patient Safety in the Hospital

Authors

  • Stéphanie Berthouzoz Department of Pharmacy, University Hospital Lausanne University Hospital Rue du Bugnon 46, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Geneva, University of Lausanne Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
  • Lina Berger Department of Pharmacy, University Hospital Lausanne University Hospital Rue du Bugnon 46, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Pascal Bonnabry School of Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Geneva, University of Lausanne Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland; Department of Pharmacy, University Hospitals Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, CH-1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland
  • André Pannatier Department of Pharmacy, University Hospital Lausanne University Hospital Rue du Bugnon 46, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Geneva, University of Lausanne Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. Andre.Pannatier@chuv.ch

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2012.300

Keywords:

Amiodarone, Civas, Ready-to-use, Injectable, Stability

Abstract

Injectable drugs are high-risk products and their reconstitution in hospital wards is a potential source of errors. Thus, in order to secure the reconstitution process and thereby improve safety, the pharmacy department of Lausanne University Hospital is focusing on developing ready-to-use forms (CIVAS). These preparations are compounded in controlled clean rooms and are analyzed prior to release. In the intensive care unit, amiodarone 12.5 mg/mL in glucose 5% is one of the high-risk preparations, which has led the pharmacy to develop a ready-to-use solution. To this end, a one-year stability study was initiated, and the preliminary results (after six months) are illustrated here. A stability-indicating HPLC method was developed and validated for monitoring the concentration of amiodarone. Batches were stored at 5 °C and 30 °C, which were analyzed immediately after preparation, after one, two, four and six months of storage. The pH and osmolality values were monitored at the respective time intervals. It was observed that after six months, all the results were within specifications. However, the pH values started to decrease after two months when amiodarone was stored at 30 °C. After six months, a degradation peak appeared on the chromatogram of these solutions, which suggested that amiodarone is more stable at 5 °C. The preliminary results obtained in this study indicated that injectable amiodarone solutions are stable for six months under refrigerated storage conditions. The study is ongoing.

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Published

2012-05-30

How to Cite

[1]
S. Berthouzoz, L. Berger, P. Bonnabry, A. Pannatier, Chimia 2012, 66, 300, DOI: 10.2533/chimia.2012.300.

Issue

Section

Scientific Articles