What is the purpose of hand hygiene in the compounding process?

The primary purpose of hand hygiene in the compounding process is to minimize the risk of microbial contamination of sterile preparations. This practice is essential in maintaining a sterile environment and preventing infections, especially when compounding medications that will be administered to patients, who may have compromised immune systems.

Proper hand hygiene involves thoroughly washing hands and using sanitizers to eliminate pathogens that could contaminate the drugs being prepared. Contaminated hands can introduce harmful bacteria, fungi, or viruses into the sterile compounding environment, ultimately leading to potentially dangerous complications for patients receiving those medications.

While other aspects of the compounding process, such as speed, comfort, and surface preparation, are important, they do not take precedence over the critical need to uphold safety and sterility through effective hand hygiene practices.