How often should storage shelving in a sterile compounding facility be cleaned and sanitized?

The appropriate frequency for cleaning and sanitizing storage shelving in a sterile compounding facility is monthly. This practice is essential to maintain a clean and sterile environment, which is crucial for preventing contamination of compounded sterile products. Monthly cleaning ensures that any potential buildup of dust, debris, or microorganisms is managed effectively while aligning with the standards set by regulatory authorities, such as the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) guidelines.

Sterile compounding facilities are required to maintain strict cleanliness standards, and while daily cleaning might be necessary for surfaces that come into direct contact with sterile products, storage shelving, which is not frequently directly handled, is adequately addressed with a monthly cleaning regimen. This approach provides a balance between maintaining cleanliness and managing operational efficiency within the facility.

The other suggested frequencies, such as weekly, yearly, or daily, are not suitable as they either overemphasize the need for cleaning (in the case of daily or weekly) or underestimate the importance of a clean environment (yearly), potentially leading to higher risks of contamination.