American journal of hospital pharmacy
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The stability of six antibiotics in intravenous fluids in polyvinyl chloride containers after freezing and microwave-thawing is reported. Tobramycin sulfate 160 mg, amikacin sulfate 1 g, ticarcillin disodium 3 g, clindamycin phosphate 300 mg, nafcillin sodium 1 g, and ampicillin sodium was also diluted in plastic bags of 0.9% sodium chloride injection 50 ml. For each antibiotic except ampicillin sodium, three bags were prepared and assayed immediately for antibiotic content. ⋯ All antibiotics except ampicillin retained 90% or more potency when microwave-thawed after storage at -20 degrees C for 30 days, and after subsequent storage at room temperature for 24 hours. Ampicillin sodium was stable in 0.9% sodium chloride when stored at -30 or -70 degrees C, microwave-thawed, and stored up to eight hours at room temperature. Ampicillin sodium was stable in 5% dextrose when stored at -70 degrees C and microwaved-thawed, but its potency declined to 70.5% after eight hours storage at room temperature.