Bacteriological Quality of Ready-to-Use Injectable Preparations Stored in Ward Drug Trolleys at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria

Once dispensed from the pharmacy, ready-to-use injectable preparations are stored in ward drug trolleys where temperature fluctuations and frequent handling may compromise sterility. This study examined the bacteriological quality of ready-to-use injectable preparations retrieved from ward drug trolleys in medical and surgical wards at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. A total of 60 injectable preparations (intravenous antibiotics, glucose solutions, and saline infusions) were sampled at the time of drug trolley inspection. Sterility testing was performed by direct inoculation into thioglycollate broth and Tryptone Soya Broth (TSB). Positive cultures were characterized biochemically and by susceptibility testing. Environmental conditions including trolley temperature and storage duration were documented. Results showed that 18.3 percent of sampled preparations failed sterility testing. Coagulase-negative Staphylococci were the predominant contaminants (54.5%), followed by Bacillus subtilis (36.4%) and Klebsiella oxytoca (9.1%). Products stored beyond 12 hours in non-refrigerated trolleys showed the highest failure rates. These findings indicate inadequate standards for post-dispensing storage of injectable preparations in clinical ward environments. The study recommends establishment of ward-level storage protocols, temperature monitoring, and strict beyond-use dating for all dispensed injectables as part of hospital pharmaceutical care standards. Keywords: injectable preparations, sterility, drug trolleys, ward pharmacy, ABUTH.