Studies on in-use microbial contamination of sterile medicines at an animal hospital.

Eye drops, injection solutions and infusion fluids in-use were collected from the various wards of an animal hospital and tested for sterility. Medicines from the stationary wards showed a contamination frequency of 17.5%, whereas 62% of those from the ambulatory ward were contaminated. The veterinarians who, as regards the handling of medicines, often have to work under extraordinary conditions must be observant of the risks of handling and keeping sterile medicines in an inconvenient way. This is especially important in ambulatory practice.