Perception of BPharm Undergraduates on the Impact of Community Pharmacy Practices on Microbial Contamination of Pharmaceuticals.

Abstract

Background: Pharmaceuticals have the potential to become contaminated with microorganisms, posing serious health risks to patients. This study provides insights into the current community pharmacy practices which may lead to contamination of pharmaceuticals. Objective: To analyze the perception of BPharm undergraduates of the University of Ruhuna on the impact of community pharmacy practices on microbial contamination of pharmaceuticals Methods: A qualitative study was performed via in-depth interviews. In-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire until the saturation point was reached. Thematic analysis was used to process the qualitative analysis.

Results: The saturation point was obtained with 15 participants. Out of the 15 participants, 11(73.34%) were females. All the participants were in the age range of 18-29 years and 4th year of their course of study. During qualitative analysis, six main themes emerged: current pharmacy practices, contributing factors for poor practices, impact on end-users, influence of regulations, and potential solutions. Participants had various concerns, including inadequate environmental control, mishandling of drugs, heavy workloads, and lack of facilities. Participants stated that the impact of contamination on end users (patients) was significant, raising concerns about stability, therapeutic efficacy, and health risks. Participants emphasized the importance of regulations but noted challenges in compliance. As strategies to reduce contamination risks of pharmaceuticals due to community practices, participants suggested reducing tablet quantity in containers, using blister packs, enhancing hygiene, educating patients and pharmacy staff, limiting tablet issuance, using small bottles for dispensing tablets, and strengthening regulations as solutions for better contamination control. Conclusions: The study reveals satisfactory concerns about community pharmacy practices leading to pharmaceutical contamination. Focusing on good community pharmacy practices is crucial to mitigate these risks and ensure safety