To evaluate the microbiological sterility of selected disposable medical devices. Random samples of selected articles were obtained from open market and tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar, KPK. The Pharmaceutical sterility of these randomly sampled articles was assessed using United States Pharmacopoeia’s standards for the sterility tests. The tests for evaluation of sterility were carried out in controlled aseptic environment using standard procedures and equipment. In case of Foley catheters 25% of total samples showed microbiological growth, intravenous cannula exhibited 33.3% microbial presence; while in case of intravenous infusion sets 83.3% samples appeared non-sterile. Foley catheters and intravenous infusion sets indicated bacterial growth while for intravenous cannula both bacterial and fungal growths were detected. Chances of microbiological contamination in disposable articles available in market are quite ample. It is therefore recommended that pharmaceutical manufacturers of such articles must strictly comply to GMP guidelines specially for sterilization in order to prevent local and systemic infection complications.
Foley Catheters, Intravenous Cannula,Intravenous Infusion Sets, Ethylene oxide sterilization
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