What is required to be removed when leaving the compounding area?

When leaving the compounding area, it is essential to ensure that specific personal protective equipment (PPE) is removed to minimize the risk of contamination and protect both the individual and the environment. In the context of USP <800>, which provides guidelines for handling hazardous drugs, it is critical to remove items that may carry residual contamination.

Removing at least the gown and outer shoe covers is required because these garments can collect hazardous drug residues during the compounding process. Gowns are designed to prevent exposure to hazardous drugs, and outer shoe covers help to prevent tracking these substances outside the compounding area. By removing these items, you are significantly reducing the potential for cross-contamination to other areas, thereby ensuring safety for both personnel and patients.

Other PPE items, such as gloves, are also important and should be properly disposed of, but the critical emphasis for this question lies in the gown and shoe covers. They provide a barrier that is more likely to carry contamination due to their broader coverage of the body and contact with the workspace during compounding activities. Hence, the practice emphasizes the removal of these specific items as a standard safety protocol.