Continuous and Effective Microbiological Air Monitoring in Critical Environments: A Comparison of Analytical Methodologies

PDA J Pharm Sci Technol. 2020 Jul-Aug;74(4):446-455. doi: 10.5731/pdajpst.2019.010181. Epub 2020 Feb 14.

Abstract

Manufacture of sterile products must strictly follow carefully established and validated analytical methods of manufacture and control. Based on this consideration, we evaluated scientific literature describing settle plates and active air sampler monitoring effectiveness. A contamination control strategy should be implemented by pharma manufacturers, especially for aseptic productions, to assess the effectiveness of environmental monitoring and demonstrate that the process is under statistical control. It is of key importance for microbiological monitoring data to correlate as best as possible with total particle monitoring data so that each batch release is reliably supported.

Keywords: 14698; Annex 1; Clean room classification; Clean room contamination; Clean room monitoring; Settle plates; cGMP.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Air Microbiology* / standards
  • Drug Contamination / prevention & control*
  • Environment, Controlled*
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Equipment Contamination / prevention & control*
  • Microbiological Techniques*
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / analysis*
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / standards
  • Quality Control
  • Technology, Pharmaceutical* / instrumentation
  • Technology, Pharmaceutical* / standards

Substances

  • Pharmaceutical Preparations