CDC reemphasizes single-use vials means one patient only

January 12th, 2015

Drug shortages and lean economic times may tempt some to scavenge that remnants of doses left in a “single dose” vials. After a staggering series of hepatitis outbreaks over the last decade, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is understandably concerned. The agency recently “restated” its position on the use of single-dose/single-use vials, seeking “to dispel inaccuracies being disseminated to healthcare providers.” The CDC concedes that shortages of some essential medications may warrant implementation of meticulously applied practice and quality standards to subdivide contents of single-dose/single-use vials, but this must be done under rigors standards for pharmaceutical compounding of sterile preparations. The CDC statement reads as follows:

The CDC guidelines call for medications labeled as “single dose” or “single use” to be used for only one patient. This practice protects patients from life-threatening infections that occur when medications get contaminated from unsafe use. Concerns have been raised about whether these guidelines and related policies contribute to drug shortages and increased medical costs to healthcare providers. CDC recognizes the problem of drug shortages; however, such shortages are a result of manufacturing, shipping, and other issues unrelated to the above guidelines. CDC’s priority is protecting patients from harm. CDC routinely investigates and is apprised of infectious disease outbreaks involving single-dose/single-use vials being used for multiple patients. These outbreaks cause extensive harm to patients, and they are associated with significant healthcare and legal expenses. Therefore, CDC continues to strongly support its current policies regarding single-dose/single-use vials. It is imperative that drug shortages and drug waste concerns are dealt with appropriately and do not lead to unsafe medical practices that impose increased disease risk on patients.