Compounding parenteral nutrition: reducing the risks.

Compounding parenteral nutrition, either manually or with an automated compounding device, requires aseptic conditions and trained personnel. The revised version of United States Pharmacopeia Chapter <797> is a comprehensive document that describes standards and procedures to minimize the risk of contamination of compounded parenteral products. The chapter includes evidence-based instructions for pharmacy design, washing, garbing, cleaning, quality assurance, and personnel training and evaluation designed to improve compounding practices in all pharmacies that compound parenteral products. Because parenteral nutrition is a compounded product mixed from multiple additives, it is important to maintain these standards, especially when using an automated compounding device. This article is an overview of United States Pharmacopeia Chapter <797>, with special emphasis on parenteral nutrition.