Can I eat where I compound?

Compounding environments must be designed to minimise contamination risk –  including keeping meal breaks well away from the bench.

For most, the image of a typical ‘behind the counter’ pharmacy environment is not one of expansive space. Instead, it’s a compact and busy environment where almost every inch is occupied by something essential for us to do our job. There’s the dispensary itself, an area where medicines are compounded, and usually, another space for staff to take their well-deserved lunch break, too.

Separation of compounding and lunch areas is essential, not only for keeping crumbs out of capsules, but to ensure compounded medicines are free from contamination, consistently meet quality standards and for maintaining the safety of staff.^1,2 

Why is it important?

Pharmacists have a legal and professional responsibility to ensure compounding occurs in an environment that has been adequately designed, equipped and resourced.²

Compounding practices should be informed by relevant guidelines and standards for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), which reinforce the importance of prohibiting food and drink in compounding areas.^2,3 These areas need to be clean and orderly to protect ingredients and compounded medicines from microbial and particulate contamination, throughout all stages of compounding.³ Grabbing a quick bite between batches could put medicine quality, staff and patient safety at risk.

How should a compounding area be organised? 

Requirements vary across pharmacy premises depending on the complexity of the compounding being conducted. Facilities and equipment must comply with relevant Commonwealth and state or territory legislation, relevant regulatory authority requirements and Australian standards.⁴ 

Some key considerations for compounding areas include that^4,5:

• compounding should occur in a designated area, away from routine dispensing activities and high-footfall areas.
• surfaces need to be in good condition and covered with non-shedding, smooth, impervious, washable materials.
• other activities must not occur in the compounding area at the same time as compounding.

What about complex compounding?

Complex compounding activities will require more specialised facilities and equipment.⁴ Non-sterile complex compounding should ideally occur in a dedicated laboratory separated from other parts of the pharmacy by floor-to-ceiling walls, with a door for entry and exit.⁴ It’s important to remember that if the laboratory is accessible by the public, the door should be lockable.⁴

Assessing your compounding area

Risk assessments are useful tools to determine whether compounding areas and equipment are suitable and safe for the medicines being compounded.² If an issue is identified, remember it’s important to bring this to the attention of the person responsible for the premises, to allow for corrective actions to be implemented.

See the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary (APF) Compounding decision support and risk assessment tool for guidance.

Everyone is entitled to a lunch break. Designating a separate space for meals away from compounding areas reduces contamination risk and maintains GMP standards for compounded medicines, staff and patients.

References

1. Department of Health and Aged Care. Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. At: www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A03952/latest/text
2. Ahpra Pharmacy Board. Guidelines on compounding of medicines. 2024. At: www.pharmacyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines.aspx   
3. PIC/S. Guide to good practices for the preparation of medicinal products in healthcare establishments. 2014. At: https://picscheme.org/en/publications
4. Sansom LN, ed. Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary and Handbook. Canberra: Pharmaceutical Society of Australia; 2024.
5. Marriott J, Wilson K, Langley C, et al. Pharmaceutical compounding and dispensing. 2nd edn. London: Pharmaceutical Press; 2010.