Aseptic Processing
Increasing Patient Safety by Closing the Sterile Production Gap—Part 1. Introduction
Agalloco JP, (2017). PDA J Pharm Sci and Tech, vol. 71, pp. 261-268.
Terminal sterilization is considered the preferred means for the production of sterile drug products because it affords enhanced safety for the patient as the formulation is filled into its final container, sealed, and sterilized. Despite the obvious patient benefits, the use of terminal sterilization is artificial-ly constrained by unreasonable expectations for the minimum time-temperature process to be used. The core misunderstanding with terminal sterilization is a fixation that destruction of a high popula-tion of a resistant biological indicator is required. The origin of this misconception is unclear, but it has resulted in sterilization conditions that are extremely harsh (15 min at 121 °C, of F0 _ 8 min), which limit the use of terminal sterilization to extremely heat-stable formulations. These articles out-line the artificial nature of the process constraints and describe a scientifically sound means to expand the use of terminal sterilization by identifying the correct process goal— destruction of the bioburden present in the container prior to sterilization. Recognition that the true intention is bioburden destruc-tion in routine products allows for the use of reduced conditions (lower temperatures, shorter process dwell, or both) without added patient risk. By focusing attention on the correct process target, lower time-temperature conditions can be used to expand the use of terminal sterilization to products unable to withstand the harsh conditions that have been mistakenly applied. The first article provides the background and describes the benefits to patient, producer, and regulator. The second article includes validation and operational advice that can be used in the implementation.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28089964
Increasing Patient Safety by Closing the Sterile Production Gap—Part 2. Implementation
Agalloco JP, (2017). PDA J Pharm Sci and Tech, vol. 71, pp. 269-273.
Terminal sterilization is considered the preferred means for the production of sterile drug productsbecause it affords enhanced safety for the patient as the formulation is filled into its final container, sealed, and sterilized. Despite the obvious patient benefits, the use of terminal sterilization is artificial-ly constrained by unreasonable expectations for the minimum time–temperature process to be used. The core misunderstanding with terminal sterilization is a fixation that destruction of a high concentra-tion of a resistant biological indicator is required. The origin of this misconception is unclear, but it has resulted in sterilization conditions that are extremely harsh (15 min at 121 °C, of F0 _8 min), which limit the use of terminal sterilization to extremely heat-stable formulations. These articles out-line the artificial nature of the process constraints and describe a scientifically sound means to expand the use of terminal sterilization by identifying the correct process goal—the destruction of the biobur-den present in the container prior to sterilization. Recognition that the true intention is bioburden de-struction in routine products allows for the use of reduced conditions (lower temperatures, shorter process dwell, or both) without added patient risk. By focusing attention on the correct process target, lower time–temperature conditions can be used to expand the use of terminal sterilization to products unable to withstand the harsh conditions that have been mistakenly applied. The first article provides the background, and describes the benefits to patient, producer, and regulator. The second article in-cludes validation and operational advice that can be used in the implementation.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28089965
Increasing Patient Safety by Closing the Sterile Production Gap—Part 3—Moist Heat Resistance of Bioburden
Agalloco JP, (2017). PDA J Pharm Sci and Tech, vol. 71, pp. 274-278.
Terminal sterilization is considered the preferred means for the production of sterile drug products, asit affords enhanced safety for the patient because the formulation is sterilized in its sealed, final con-tainer. Despite the obvious patient benefits, the use of terminal sterilization is artificially constrained by unreasonable expectations for the minimum time-temperature process to be used. The core misun-derstanding with terminal sterilization is the notion that destruction of a high population of a resistant biological indicator microorganism is required. More contemporary thinking on sterilization acknowl-edges that the bioburden is the actual target in sterilization and its destruction must be assured. In the application of low-temperature moist heat for terminal sterilization, especially subsequent to aseptic processing, establishing the pre-sterilization bioburden to consider has proven challenging.Environmental monitoring survey data has determined the identity of potential microorganisms but not their resistance to sterilization. This review article provides information on the moist heat resistance of vegetative and sporeforming microorganisms that might be present. The first paper in this series pro-vided the overall background and described the benefits to patient, producer, and regulator of low-temperature moist heat for terminal sterilization. The second paper outlined validation and operational advice that can be used in the implementation. This final effort concludes the series and provides in-sight into potential bioburden and its resistance.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28416646
How to deal with non-sterile results in aseptic processing
Gapp G, (2014). European Pharmaceutical Review, vol. 19(3)
Non-sterile results in sterility testing (ST) and/or media fills (MFs) represent one of the most serious challenges for quality assurance (QA) microbiologists in the pharmaceutical industry. Investigation of the root cause, analysis of the risks to the product and determination of corrective and preventative actions (CAPA) take days, sometimes weeks, of manpower and resources. Decisions are taken under enormous pressure since they are always timecritical and have a huge impact on both the patient and the company. Therefore, it is essential to be well prepared in order to manage the investigation process proactively or, ideally, to prevent forthcoming non-sterile results.
http://www.europeanpharmaceuticalreview.com/26002/supplements/microbiology-depth-focus-2014/
