What should compounding personnel do if they are ill?

Compounding personnel are responsible for maintaining sterile environments to ensure patient safety, especially when preparing medications. If a compounding professional is ill, it poses a risk not only to themselves but also to the sterility of the compounded preparations and potentially to patient health.

By reporting their illness and refraining from working, they prevent the possibility of contaminating the work area or introducing pathogens into the sterile compounding process. This practice aligns with the guidelines established by USP 797, which emphasizes the importance of personnel health in maintaining the integrity and safety of compounded sterile preparations.

Maintaining a sterile environment is paramount, and ensuring that only healthy personnel are in the compounding area is a fundamental component of preventing contamination and ensuring compliance with the strict standards set forth in sterile compounding practices.