OBJECTIVE: To test for potential bacterial contamination of the ADD-Vantage system when the components are assembled in various hospital environments. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred fifty ADD-Vantage units were assembled by three different people in three separate locations within a hospital. Each person assembled ten units per day; the study spanned five days. After 72 hours of incubation, units were inspected for evidence of contamination. SETTING: ADD-Vantage units were assembled by a pharmacist in a laminar-flow hood, a pharmacy student using the pharmacy counter, and a nurse at a patient's bedside table. Personnel at each site wore their regular work attire. Each person observed handwashing techniques normally used during routine working hours. DATA EXTRACTION: Positive results were sent to the hospital microbiology laboratory for determination of growth type. RESULTS: After 72 hours, none of the systems exhibited microbial growth on visual inspection. No differences in microbial contamination of the ADD-Vantage systems relative to assembly site, day of assembly, or person performing the assembly were observed. The incidence of contamination was calculated at less than seven percent. CONCLUSIONS: There is minimal risk of bacterial contamination when ADD-Vantage systems are compounded either on a pharmacy counter or at a patient's bedside. Larger samples must be studied in order to detect differences in the incidence of contamination among assembly sites.
OBJECTIVE: To test for potential bacterial contamination of the ADD-Vantage system when the components are assembled in various hospital environments. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred fifty ADD-Vantage units were assembled by three different people in three separate locations within a hospital. Each person assembled ten units per day; the study spanned five days. After 72 hours of incubation, units were inspected for evidence of contamination. SETTING: ADD-Vantage units were assembled by a pharmacist in a laminar-flow hood, a pharmacy student using the pharmacy counter, and a nurse at a patient's bedside table. Personnel at each site wore their regular work attire. Each person observed handwashing techniques normally used during routine working hours. DATA EXTRACTION: Positive results were sent to the hospital microbiology laboratory for determination of growth type. RESULTS: After 72 hours, none of the systems exhibited microbial growth on visual inspection. No differences in microbial contamination of the ADD-Vantage systems relative to assembly site, day of assembly, or person performing the assembly were observed. The incidence of contamination was calculated at less than seven percent. CONCLUSIONS: There is minimal risk of bacterial contamination when ADD-Vantage systems are compounded either on a pharmacy counter or at a patient's bedside. Larger samples must be studied in order to detect differences in the incidence of contamination among assembly sites.