Which method is recommended to ensure sterility in compounded preparations?

Conducting routine sterility testing is the recommended method to ensure sterility in compounded preparations. This practice is fundamental in sterile compounding, as it directly assesses whether the compounded products are free from viable microorganisms. Sterility testing should be performed using established guidelines and protocols to validate the compounding process and provide critical information about the safety and quality of the preparation.

Routine sterility testing acts as a safeguard, helping to confirm that the conditions under which the compounding occurs are consistently maintained and that any potential contamination is identified before the product is administered to patients. This is especially vital in preventing infections, particularly in vulnerable populations who may receive high-risk sterile preparations.

The other options, such as storing compounded products without temperature monitoring or relying solely on visual inspection at the time of administration, do not adequately ensure the sterility of compounded preparations and could potentially lead to patient harm due to undetected contamination. Therefore, the emphasis on routine sterility testing is critical in adhering to best practices in sterile compounding.