Low-level microbial contamination of liquid in syringe hubs leads to an unacceptable risk to the end product

Yusop, Noorsuriani, Williams, Gareth John, Cooper, Callum, Burton, Rachel, Samuel, Lee and Maillard, Jean-Yves ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8617-9288 2011. Low-level microbial contamination of liquid in syringe hubs leads to an unacceptable risk to the end product. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 63 (2) , pp. 164-168. 10.1111/j.2042-7158.2010.01201.x

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Abstract

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the risk associated with microbial contamination in the hub-fluid in Luer-lock syringes to the end-product, and ultimately patients. Methods The hub-fluid of 48 sterile syringes prefilled with broth was contaminated with a low number of Staphylococcus epidermidis or spores of Bacillus subtilis. After incubation for three weeks, the syringe fills were tested for the presence of bacterial contaminants and some syringes were used to inoculate an end product broth that was then investigated for the presence of microorganisms. Key findings After three weeks of incubation only 20.8% of syringe fills showed turbidity, although following further investigation 70.8% were positive for the presence of viable bacteria, whereas 95.6% of end products became contaminated following injection of the syringe fill. Conclusions These findings add quantitative data that support the current practice of discarding syringes with residue around the cap.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Pharmacy
Subjects:	R Medicine > RB Pathology R Medicine > RM Therapeutics. Pharmacology
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Bacillus subtilis;contamination;hub-fluid;Luer-lock syringes;Staphylococcus epidermidis
Publisher:	Royal Pharmaceutical Society
ISSN:	2042-7158
Last Modified:	18 Oct 2022 14:01
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/16175

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