The present study validated the compatibility of 1 commercially available PN and 20 medications. These results offer new solutions to support the implementation of complex therapeutic schemes in practice, when coadministration via Y-site cannot be avoided.

Background and objectives Centralized chemotherapy preparation units have established systematic strategies to avoid errors. Our work aimed to evaluate the accuracy of manual preparations associated with different control methods. Method A simulation study in an operational setting used phenylephrine and lidocaine as markers. Each operator prepared syringes that were controlled using a different method during each of three sessions (no control, visual double-checking, and gravimetric control). Eight reconstitutions and dilutions were prepared in each session, with variable doses and volumes, using different concentrations of stock solutions. Results were analyzed according to qualitative (choice of stock solution) and quantitative criteria (accurate, <5% deviation from the target concentration; weakly accurate, 5%-10%; inaccurate, 10%-30%; wrong, >30% deviation). Results Eleven operators carried out 19 sessions. No final preparation (n = 438) contained a wrong drug. The protocol involving no control failed to detect 1 of 3 dose errors made and double-checking failed to detect 3 of 7 dose errors. The gravimetric control method detected all 5 out of 5 dose errors. The accuracy of the doses measured was equivalent across the control methods ( p = 0.63 Kruskal-Wallis). The final preparations ranged from 58% to 60% accurate, 25% to 27% weakly accurate, 14% to 17% inaccurate and 0.9% wrong. A high variability was observed between operators. Discussion Gravimetric control was the only method able to detect all dose errors, but it did not improve dose accuracy. A dose accuracy with <5% deviation cannot always be guaranteed using manual production. Automation should be considered in the future.

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Introduction Chemotherapies are handled using Good Manufacturing Practices, which ensure asepsis and high-quality production. Continuous education is compulsory and usually includes theoretical and practical exercises. Objectives This work aimed to validate an innovative method of teaching good manufacturing practices based on an escape room mixing simulation and gaming. Method Pairs of learners were locked in a simulated clean room (Esclean Room) and had 1 hour to produce a chemotherapy and escape by finding solutions to 23 “Good Manufacturing Practices mysteries” linked to combination locks. To measure the experiment’s impact on teaching, questionnaires including the 23 mysteries (in different orders) were filled in before, just after and one month after escape from the Esclean Room. Pharmacy staff’ degrees of certainty were noted for each question. A satisfaction survey was completed. Results Seventy-two learners (29% senior pharmacists, 14% junior pharmacists, and 57% pharmacy technicians) escaped the Esclean Room and 56 answered every questionnaire. The educational intervention resulted in increases in correct answers and certainty. Correct answers rose from 57% in the first questionnaire to 80% in the third ( p < 0.001). Certainty scores rose from 50% before the experiment to 70% one month afterwards ( p < 0.001). Despite 68% of learners having never taken part in an escape room game before, 79% liked this educational method. Conclusion This study built and tested a pedagogical escape room involving a high risk, professional, pharmacy process. The use of this pharmacy technology simulation had a positive impact on pharmacy staff theoretical knowledge.

Up to 50 mmol/L of organic calcium and phosphate salts can be safely mixed in PN, even in unstable conditions, making it possible to follow the current European recommendations for requirements in neonates.