Microbiological Contamination of Medicinal Products —Is It a Significant Problem?

Medicinal products available on the market should be characterised by therapeutic efficacy, high quality, and safety for patients. They must either be sterile or comply with the appropriate pharmacopoeial microbiological purity requirements. Pharmacopoeial monographs related to microbiological tests...

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Main Authors: Stefan Tyski, Magdalena Burza, Agnieszka Ewa Laudy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Pharmaceuticals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/946
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author Stefan Tyski
Magdalena Burza
Agnieszka Ewa Laudy
author_facet Stefan Tyski
Magdalena Burza
Agnieszka Ewa Laudy
author_sort Stefan Tyski
collection DOAJ
description Medicinal products available on the market should be characterised by therapeutic efficacy, high quality, and safety for patients. They must either be sterile or comply with the appropriate pharmacopoeial microbiological purity requirements. Pharmacopoeial monographs related to microbiological tests of drug quality were also referenced. Despite stringent regulations governing pharmaceutical production, irregularities in the microbiological quality of drugs still occur. These are monitored by relevant agencies, which may order the recall of defective product batches from the market. However, in recent years, numerous cases of microbiological contamination in drugs and drug-related infections have been reported. Both isolated incidents and larger outbreaks or epidemics linked to contaminated medicines have been documented. Various microorganisms, including Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, anaerobes, and yeast-like and mould fungi, have been identified in medicinal products or in patients affected by contaminated drugs. Ensuring the appropriate purity or sterility of pharmaceutical raw materials; maintaining cleanliness in the manufacturing environment, facilities, and equipment; and adhering to hygiene protocols and Good Manufacturing Practice regulations are essential for the production of safe and high-quality medicinal products. The aim of this study is to collect and compile information on the microbiological quality of drugs available on the market, with particular attention to identified irregularities, objectionable microorganisms isolated from medicinal products, and drug-related infections.
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spelling doaj-art-09f10c6305f34a54aa48b74cb0b2288d2025-07-25T13:33:02ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472025-06-0118794610.3390/ph18070946Microbiological Contamination of Medicinal Products —Is It a Significant Problem?Stefan Tyski0Magdalena Burza1Agnieszka Ewa Laudy2Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Laboratory Diagnostic, National Medicines Institute, 00-725 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Laboratory Diagnostic, National Medicines Institute, 00-725 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Bioanalysis, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, PolandMedicinal products available on the market should be characterised by therapeutic efficacy, high quality, and safety for patients. They must either be sterile or comply with the appropriate pharmacopoeial microbiological purity requirements. Pharmacopoeial monographs related to microbiological tests of drug quality were also referenced. Despite stringent regulations governing pharmaceutical production, irregularities in the microbiological quality of drugs still occur. These are monitored by relevant agencies, which may order the recall of defective product batches from the market. However, in recent years, numerous cases of microbiological contamination in drugs and drug-related infections have been reported. Both isolated incidents and larger outbreaks or epidemics linked to contaminated medicines have been documented. Various microorganisms, including Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, anaerobes, and yeast-like and mould fungi, have been identified in medicinal products or in patients affected by contaminated drugs. Ensuring the appropriate purity or sterility of pharmaceutical raw materials; maintaining cleanliness in the manufacturing environment, facilities, and equipment; and adhering to hygiene protocols and Good Manufacturing Practice regulations are essential for the production of safe and high-quality medicinal products. The aim of this study is to collect and compile information on the microbiological quality of drugs available on the market, with particular attention to identified irregularities, objectionable microorganisms isolated from medicinal products, and drug-related infections.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/946microbial contamination of drugsEuropean Pharmacopoeiaquality of medicinessterile drugsmicrobial purity of drugs
spellingShingle Stefan Tyski
Magdalena Burza
Agnieszka Ewa Laudy
Microbiological Contamination of Medicinal Products —Is It a Significant Problem?
Pharmaceuticals
microbial contamination of drugs
European Pharmacopoeia
quality of medicines
sterile drugs
microbial purity of drugs
title Microbiological Contamination of Medicinal Products —Is It a Significant Problem?
title_full Microbiological Contamination of Medicinal Products —Is It a Significant Problem?
title_fullStr Microbiological Contamination of Medicinal Products —Is It a Significant Problem?
title_full_unstemmed Microbiological Contamination of Medicinal Products —Is It a Significant Problem?
title_short Microbiological Contamination of Medicinal Products —Is It a Significant Problem?
title_sort microbiological contamination of medicinal products is it a significant problem
topic microbial contamination of drugs
European Pharmacopoeia
quality of medicines
sterile drugs
microbial purity of drugs
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/946
work_keys_str_mv AT stefantyski microbiologicalcontaminationofmedicinalproductsisitasignificantproblem
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AT agnieszkaewalaudy microbiologicalcontaminationofmedicinalproductsisitasignificantproblem