Practices and attitudes concerning expiration date, unused, and expired medication disposal

Background: According to the product type, the date of expiration is set after manufacturing or after dispensing of the medication or after opening of the medication’s container. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess practices and attitudes concerning unused, disposal, and expiration date of medications among Saudi population in the Northern Border Region of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted during a period of 9 months from April 2019 to January 2020 on a random sample, all data were analyzed by means of descriptive analysis. Results: The total number of people answered the questionnaire during the study period were 529, nearly all the participants (99%) keep medication in their homes at the study time. Only half of the participants (53%) were aware that expiry date on the bottle differs after bottle opening. About 24% of participants do not check the expiry date while purchasing medications. The main cause mentioned for not checking the expiry dates while purchasing medicines were that pharmacist already checked (71%), about half of study participants (56%) check the expiry date of stored medicines at the time of usage. About 34% and 41% of participants reported that if they buy eye/ear drops and ointment/cream respectively, they will keep it in bedroom. About 74% of study participants throw away expired medicine in household garbage as it is. Conclusion: It is obvious that Saudi people have a sufficient level of awareness of the expiry date of medication; however, their practices are poor. In light of the study findings, there is a great need to improve public awareness toward the storage and disposal of drugs and its bad consequences.

An Experimental Study on Conserving Time of Operating Instrument Set for Combat Readiness in Inland and Plateau Section / 中华医院感染学杂志

OBJECTIVE To investigate the storage time and the origin of bacteria for disinfection package for combat readiness under natural environment in inland and plateau situation.METHODS We prepared double-cotton operation dressing packet,apparatus package,as well as dressing and apparatus mixed packet each with 72 pieces,respectively.Packages were deposited within closed and opened storage boxes under natural environment in depository for combat readiness,respectively after vacuum steam sterilization.Three different kinds of packages each with 3 items were put inside each box.After sterilization,total of 9 items with each 3 from one type of package were taken randomly from each group every time for bacterial culture by different time.At the same time,samples of the air and depot boxes in warehouse for combat readiness were collected and cultured as well as analyzed for bacterial homology.RESULTS In Chongqing,all packages were negative for bacteria on the 40th day after sterilization,while 2 packages were positive for bacteria on the 49th day.In Lhasa,4 packages were positive in opened group on the 106th day after sterilization.On the 122nd day,6 packages were positive in opened group and 1 item was positive in closed group.The dominant bacteria are bacilli and staphylococci both in the air and depot boxes of the warehouse for combat readiness.CONCLUSIONS The storage time for disinfection package under natural environment in different areas correlates closely with the local environmental and climatic situations.The bacteria of the package were confirmed to be from the air.The effective storage time for disinfection package would be prolonged by standardization of the disinfection procedure,and control multiple environmental factors affecting microorganisms.

A study about the desiccation and the expiry date for humidifier after disinfection / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To study the proper desiccation and the expiry date for humidifier after disinfection, and then decline the incidence rate of infection in hospital. Methods Divided 84 humidifiers into the A and B groups randomly after disinfection, there were 42 humidifiers in the each group. The natural desiccation was used in the A group, the oxygen desiccation was used in the B group. Monitored the humidifiers of the two groups respectively lasted 7 days, and then compare the datum between them. Results The expiry date of the humidifiers which have dried by natural desiccation was longer than that of humidifiers which have dried by oxygen desiccation. Conclusion We should set down the expiry date for humidifier according to the different desiccation and the different seasons.

Expiry Date of Sterile Articles Packed by 4 Different Materials and Preserved in Different Conditions after Pressure Steam Sterilizing: An Observation / 中华医院感染学杂志

OBJECTIVE To investigate the expiry date of sterile articles packed by 4 different materials and preserved in different conditions after pressure steam sterilizing. METHODS The bacteria growth of the materials sterilized by pressure steam sterilizing method and stored in the supply department,treatment room,dressing room,nursing cabinet and ambulance vehicle was observed. RESULTS The axenic periods of the sterile materials in the supply department preserved by methods A,B,C,D were 14 days,14 days,7 months and 8 months,respectively in summer;while the sterile periods of the materials in the treatment room,dressing room,nursing cabinet and ambulance vehicle preserved by methods A,B,C,D were 11 days,11days,6 months and 7 months,respectively. CONCLUSIONS Management of expiry date of sterile materials is an important measure to guarantee safe use of sterile materials and prevent against nosocomial infection.