What do the guidelines of USP 797 focus on?

The guidelines of USP 797 specifically focus on standards for sterile compounding in order to ensure patient safety and the integrity of compounded sterile preparations (CSPs). These guidelines set forth the necessary practices to minimize the risk of contamination and ensure that compounded medications are safe, effective, and of high quality. This involves defining sterile environments, the use of appropriate equipment, personnel training, and proper procedures for compounding sterile products.

Understanding this focus helps emphasize the critical nature of sterile compounding in pharmacy practice, especially for patients receiving injectable medications or those whose health is highly dependent on the sterility and precision of their treatments. While other aspects of pharmacy practice, like dispensing regulations and quality control measures, are important, they do not specifically address the risks and requirements associated with the complex processes involved in sterile compounding, which is the core concern of USP 797.