Which type of air pressure is required in medium-risk sterile compounding environments?

In medium-risk sterile compounding environments, positive pressure is required to ensure a safe and sterile workspace for the preparation of compounded sterile preparations (CSPs). Positive pressure helps to prevent contamination from the surrounding environment by ensuring that air flows out of the compounding area rather than into it. This is particularly important in sterile environments, where exposure to airborne contaminants can compromise the sterility and safety of the products being prepared.

The use of positive pressure is critical in sterile compounding facilities such as clean rooms or environments equipped with laminar flow hoods. In these settings, air is filtered through high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, which remove potential contaminants, and then circulated into the compounding area. This process keeps the air clean and maintains the standards required for the safe preparation of sterile medications.

In contrast, negative pressure is typically utilized in environments where containment of hazardous substances or infectious agents is necessary, such as in a biological safety cabinet. This setup prevents harmful air from escaping into the surrounding area but is not appropriate for maintaining sterility in compounding environments that handle non-hazardous sterile preparations.

The options related to no airflow restrictions and variable pressure do not align with the stringent requirements of clean room practices necessary for medium-risk sterile comp