Abstract
Environmental sanitation in the dispensary is discussed in view of the probable microbial contamination of pharmacists to be caused in contact with prescriptions brought by patients. Following results were obtained:
1) In the pharmacists who prepared powder drugs, the number of microorganisms on their fingers recorded after 2-hour service preceded by handwashing was larger than that checked upon their arrival at the dispensary in the morning. In the positions of the dispensary where powder products were not handled, the bacterial contamination after 2-hour service was on almost the same degree as that immediately after pharmacists arrived at the dispensary. The total number after service was somewhat larger.
2) The number of microorganisms detected in the prescriptions was largest in those issued from the department of dermatology, followed by that from internal medicine and from ophthalmology, in that order. More microorganisms were detected in the fingers of pharmacists who touched highly contaminated prescriptions from the dermatologic department.
