Questions and Answers on USP 797: Answers Provided by Eric S. Kastango, MBA, RPh, FASHP:

• E10 Question: Can hazardous drugs (chemotherapy) and compounded items be mixed in the same biological safety cabinets?
   

• E10 Answer:  A facility of this type has competing needs.  Negative pressure is required for hazardous compounding and positive pressure is needed for non-hazardous compounding.  If the BSC is a recirculating (not vented outside of the building), there is a chance of a build of volatile vapors and risk of cross-contamination.  If it is a total exhaust BSC (B2) and if properly decontaminated between medications types (hazardous drugs and nonhazardous drugs), the BSC could be used but all CSPs should be handled as hazardous since there may be trace amounts of hazardous drugs on area surfaces.

(Answer provided as a courtesy to usp797.org by Eric S. Kastango, MBA, RPh, FASHP. Please note that usp797.org is not responsible for this answer.)

• About Eric S. Kastango: Since its inception, Eric S. Kastango has been at the forefront of USP <797>. He is an elected member of the United States Pharmacopoeia Sterile Compounding Committee (2005-2010). Over the years, he has held multiple American Society of Health-System Pharmacists chairmanships and committee positions. He was responsible for creating the “Comprehensive Sterile Compounding Compliance Gap Analysis and Risk Assessment Tool.” In this capacity, Mr. Kastango frequents pharmacy events as an expert speaker, contributes to industry journals, and teaches. Mr. Kastango received his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences and a MBA from the University of Phoenix. Since 1980, he has practiced pharmacy in a number of practice settings (including hospitals, community, and home care) in a number of different of roles, including the Corporate Vice President of Pharmacy Services for Coram Healthcare Corporation, which has 72 pharmacies in 44 states. He has also managed a FDA-registered cGMP manufacturing operation for Baxter Healthcare Corporation, and has made over 100 presentations on a variety of pharmacy practice topics.  Mr. Kastango is the President and CEO of Clinical IQ, and can be reached as follows:

Mr. Eric S. Kastango – President and CEO
Clinical IQ, LLC 
184 Columbia Turnpike, #282 
Florham Park, NJ  07932 
Tel: (973) 765-9393 --- www.clinicaliq.com