Medication Handling

Clinical Objective

Prepare, label, store, and administer medications using practices that prevent contamination of single-patient and multi-use containers, syringes, and infusion systems.

Why This Matters

A contaminated medication vial is a single-source contamination event that can affect every patient who receives a dose. Medication discipline protects every case downstream.

Critical Control Points

• Single-patient vials never accessed for a second patient

• Multi-dose vials accessed only with a new sterile needle and syringe

• All prepared syringes labeled with drug, dose, and time

Step-by-Step Protocol

1. 1

   Disinfect the rubber stopper with alcohol before accessing any vial.

2. 2

   Use a new sterile needle and syringe for every withdrawal from a multi-dose vial.

3. 3

   Label every prepared syringe with drug, concentration, and time of preparation.

4. 4

   Discard single-patient vials immediately after the case — never carry over.

5. 5

   Store opened multi-dose vials per manufacturer guidance and expiry; date upon first access.

6. 6

   Inspect for particulates, discoloration, or cloudiness before drawing any drug.

Key Pitfalls

• Re-entering a vial with a previously used needle.

• Drawing 'a quick dose' from a single-patient vial for the next animal.

• Unlabeled syringes — ambiguity at the workspace causes drug errors and contamination.

• Storing vials on or near contaminated surfaces.