Tag: Drug expiration

A needle puncture introduces a risk of microbial contamination into a multi-dose medication vial, which is why regulatory bodies like the Joint Commission enforce the **28 day puncture rule**. This critical guideline helps ensure patient safety by preventing the use of potentially contaminated injectable drugs.

In the U.S., medication errors harm at least 1.5 million people every year, with some issues arising from improperly stored drugs [1.8.1, 1.8.2]. So, **what is spoiled medication?** It's any medicine that has degraded chemically or physically, often due to passing its expiration date or being exposed to adverse conditions like heat, light, or moisture [1.3.3, 1.3.5].