HOSPITAL PHARMACISTS AND THE RISK OF INFECTIONS

“We pharmacist are the bridging link between the Physicians and the patient” Nobody can deny this fact. People from outside world [outside the pharmacy] only see Pharmacists reading out prescription carefully and dispensing medicines. They only look at the aprons and IDs of the dispenser.  Nobody ever thinks of the risk involved while handling the medicines.

Firstly, we pharmacists are unaware about the packaging, handling and transport of medicines. The environment at which the medicines are exposed to. Secondly, once the medicines are brought for dispensing, are handled by many individuals over a time. With bare hands the medicines are taken out from the package and dispensed to the patient party. How many of we without doubt tell about the condition of our hands. Are they really free of germs or bacteria? I doubt.

Also, there is a system of medicines return if they are not needed by the patients or the physicians prescribe another one. Also, the medicines from Hospital wards are returned to the pharmacy once they become unused. These are the medicines handled by the patients: may be suffering from fatal diseases. With regular contact with the patients, the medicines may also contain bacteria and germs, which may get transferred to other healthy individuals. We pharmacists are most susceptible to these.

Patients with communicable diseases come to visit the pharmacy coughing and sneezing. We pharmacists come in direct contact with such patients. Is that not a risk? Certainly, a huge risk. The droplets from the patients carrying the carrier agents pose greater threat of infection transfer.

I frequently hear hospital staffs complaining about headaches, uncured cough and fever. Even doctors and nurses come to the pharmacy asking for medications. This is all due to the infection transfer from the patients.

So, we should consider the risk factors involved while dispensing the medicines and act carefully. Use of disposable masks and gloves may be a better option. But what about the returned medicines? Can they be sterilized at first before dispensing again? Are the manufacturer prepared for the sterilization of such medicines? Until and unless these questions remain unanswered, the risk factor still remains.