AUDIT OF THE THERMO-SENSITIVE DRUGS CIRCUIT AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL CENTER OF BRAZZAVILLE (CHUB)

The hospital pharmacist manages drugs and must ensure that the drug storage conditions including thermo-sensitive drugs which are under his responsibility, are respected. The repeated power outages make the drug security control difficult at CHUB. This exposes the CHUB to many risks: drug alteration, financial and regulatory risks. Our objective was to verify cold chain management?s maintaining, at all stages of the thermo-sensitive drug circuit using a clinical audit that assessed the compliance of practices of pharmacy staff and care units with international recommendations.From March 1st to March 31st, 2017, a hospital pharmacist and one pharmacy technician carried out a clinical audit of the reception, storage of thermo-sensitive drugs at the pharmacy, their dispensing and storage in five care units and two operating theaters. No step has been revealed to be 100% compliant. 70.8% compliance for immediate drug storage; 60.3% compliance for dispensing priority and 50% immediate storage in thermostatic chambers of 2 operating theaters.This audit showed that the cold chain is not maintained throughout the drug circuit at CHUB. Improvement actions such as the appointment of referential storekeepers responsible for the management of thermo-sensitive drugs at the pharmacy and in the care units and operating theaters will raise awareness and will ampowerhealthcare staff at CHUB.