What is Drug Cross Contamination?

Cross Contamination is one of the highest risks for patients using pharmaceutical products. It refers to the contamination of a starting material, intermediate product, or finished product with another starting material or product during production.Cross-contamination is often caused by poor gowning or hand and surface sanitization.

From a clean room perspective, cross-contamination occurs when a surface or implement such as a tool, door handle or table has been contacted with a microorganism from someone’s hands.Any individuals who comes in contact with these surfaces also run the risk of cross-contamination.

Cross-contamination may also originate from poorly designed and operated air handling systems and dust extraction systems, from inadequate procedures for personnel and equipment, or even from insufficiently cleaned equipment.