Aims: Any pharmaceutical product made in pharmacy, hospital or factory may be contaminated with microbes. This contamination can originate from raw materials or during production. Hence, it is important to study the physical and chemical properties and stability of compounded drugs. Methods & Materials: In this study, first a specific sample of prescribed medication was ordered from 63 pharmacies in Yazd, Iran. After collecting the samples, the amount of microbial contamination, viscosity and particle size distribution and their stability were investigated and their results were compared to the standard levels. Findings: Based on the results, 31.7% of the samples had discoloration and 23.8% showed creaming phenomenon. In terms of particle size distribution, 57.1% of the samples had a 20-40 μm particle size and 49.2% had a viscosity equal to 2500-3000 centipoise. Regarding stability, 12.6% of the samples underwnet phase change at 30-40°C. About of the amount of hydroquinone in samples, 35% had acceptable amount. In 23.8% of the samples, fungal infection was observed. Conclusion: Contrary to a popular belief that the compounded medicines produced in pharmacies have microbial contamination, the results of this study showed that the microbial contamination of these compounded medications is low.
Investigation of Microbial Contamination and Physicochemical Properties of Compounded Medications in Pharmacies
