3PC-050 Importance of compounding in the paediatric hospital pharmacy

• Published in: European journal of hospital pharmacy. Science and practice 2020-03, Vol.27 (Suppl 1), p.A45-A46
• Main Authors: Català Foguet, JM, Gavrus Ion, D, Sánchez Celma, M, Villaronga Flaqué, M, Farré Riba, R, Bossacoma Busquets, F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Pharmacy
• ISSN: 2047-9956; 2047-9964
• DOI: 10.1136/ejhpharm-2020-eahpconf.97

Background and importancePaediatric pharmacy often faces a lack of commercially available medicines suitable or even licensed for use in children. Children cannot be regarded as small adults or as a homogeneous group in themselves. As a consequence, paediatric medicines should be appropriately designed for the target age group. Compounding is the main solution to this problem, so the compounding area becomes essential in this type of centre. Given the high number of requests for these formulations, including the most commonly used compounded preparations in the pharmacy formulary as standard preparations (SP) is a possible solution.Aim and objectivesTo highlight the importance of compounding for obtaining child friendly dosage forms and formulations in a referral paediatric hospital.Material and methodsAll SP included in the pharmacy formulary were identified and research was conducted to ensure that a suitable or licensed commercial product for paediatric patients was unavailable nationally and internationally. Using our compounding software, we quantified all SP made in 2017 due to the lack of a commercially available product and classified these according to their route of administration.ResultsOur formulary included 99 SP compounded in our pharmacy department (table 1). Oral liquid compounded formulations (52) represented 35% of the total oral liquid drugs available in our formulary (148).Abstract 3PC-050 Table 1 Compounding form Different active substances formulated Prepared units per year Oral liquid 52 8300 Solid 16 25000 Parenteral administration 12 1879 Ocular topical 5 524 Topical 13 1535 Rectal 1 22 Table 2 describes the reasons for compounding our 99 SP.Abstract 3PC-050 Table 2 Commercially available with no child friendly formulation (dosage forms, administration volume, dosage form size) Inappropriate excipient for children Available for a different treatment indication For stability/sterility requirements 81 2 3 13 Conclusion and relevanceThe development of age appropriate and acceptable paediatric dosage forms is a complex and challenging process, as it is necessary to consider children´s acceptability and preferences for different formulations as well as the use of adequate excipients in this population. In our hospital, about one-third of the oral liquid preparations, the most adequate in paediatrics, are SP.References and/or acknowledgementsNo conflict of interest.