Good pour plate practices

The Microbiologics blog has a useful back-to-basics article on good pour plate practices. Included in the article is the following advice:

1. Keep the molten agar in the water bath for no more than three to four hours. Don’t pour the agar until it has cooled to <50°C (preferably 44°C to 46°C).

2. Don’t re-melt the agar. Agar should only be melted one time.

3. Use phosphate buffer pH 7.2 if necessary to dilute the suspension.

4. Decrease the risk of contamination by pouring plates in a laminar-airflow cabinet. When pouring multiple plates, flame the mouth of the flask before moving on to the next plate to reduce the risk of contamination.

5. Fill plates according regulators’ recommendations. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) recommends filling plates with 12 ml to 15 ml of agar. The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) recommends a fill of 15 ml to 20 ml of agar.

6. Some microorganism species, such as obligate aerobes, may recover better on spread plates than pour plates. When growing these strains, it is recommended to verify counts with a spread plate.

7. Incubate most bacterial species for 48 to 72 hours. Note: Incubate Candida albicans and Aspergillus brasiliensis for three to five days.

8. Count small microorganism colonies, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with the aid of an illuminated colony counter or magnifying glass.

9. Keep in mind recovery will be lower on selective agar. If selective agar is used, test non-selective agar in parallel using the same microorganism suspension. A higher CFU concentration for the selective agar may be necessary.

10. Don’t be surprised if the value obtained when performing tests differs from the mean assay value. Note: Microbiologics uses non-selective Tryptic Soy Agar when testing most microorganisms.

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology

Happy holidays!

I'd like to wish all readers of Pharmaceutical Microbiology all the best wishes for the holiday season and thank you for supporting this website.

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology

Pharmig Guide to Bacterial Identification

Pharmig’s latest publication is a guide to bacterial identification. The guide discusses why identification is important and what needs to be identified, answering the often-challenging questions of ‘what’, ‘when’ and ‘how often’?

There are several text books on identification. These, however, err towards the clinical. Texts on identification approaches for pharmaceutical microbiology are not common and guidance on understanding the appropriate level of identification is difficult to obtain.

Microbial identification represents an important part of the microbiology function. This includes screening products for objectionable organisms, profiling the environmental microbiota, and investigating out-of-limits events with a view to assigning a probable point of origin. In deciding what and when (and subsequently to what level) to identify, and by the way of which methods, requires an identification strategy. This is a document each microbiology laboratory should develop.

Many parts of pharmaceutical microbiology are outlined in compendia or in guidance documents issued by regulators; included within these are the importance of bioburden assessments of intermediate and finished products, and the need to monitor the environment using standard environmental monitoring methods. What is less clear is expectation with regards to microbial identification. For identification, there are established and emerging methods, based around the microbial phenotype or genotype, yet the choice between systems is not straightforward and the selection depends, in part, on what needs to be identified. Deciding which types of samples to identify; what level of identification is appropriate (morphology, genus, or species); and what can be done with the collected information needs careful thought.

Written by Dr. Anna Lovatt (GSK) and Dr. Tim Sandle (BPL), the guide discusses different methods for phenotypic and genotypic identification, and the latest rapid methods. Troubleshooting sections and case notes are included with each section. The guide comes with a foreword from Andrew Hopkins of the MHRA.

The reference is:

Lovatt, A. and Sandle, T. (2018) Guide to Bacterial Identification, Pharmig, Stanstead Abbotts, UK

For details contact Pharmig

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology

Use of Liquids and/or Soft Foods as Vehicles for Drug Administration

FDA has issued new draft guidance: “Use of Liquids and/or Soft Foods as Vehicles for Drug

Administration: General Considerations for Selection and In Vitro Methods for Product Quality Assessments Guidance for Industry.”

The introduction reads: “This guidance applies to orally administered drug products and provides recommendations to sponsors who will use or recommend use of liquids3 18 and/or soft foods as vehicles for drug administration in investigational new drug applications (INDs), new drug applications (NDAs), Biologics License Applications (BLAs), as applicable, and in supplements to these applications. This guidance addresses the approaches recommended for suitability determination of vehicles intended for use with specific drug products by providing the following…Considerations for selection of liquids and/or soft foods as vehicles…Standardized in vitro methodology and data recommendations for drug product quality assessments to qualify vehicle(s) for drug product administration… Recommendations to communicate acceptable (qualified) vehicles in drug product labeling. If certain foods are found unacceptable, they should also be included in the labelling.

See: https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/UCM614401.pdf

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology

Pharmig Annual Conference 2018

Pharmigs 26th Annual Conference Programme Interactive 2018 Final (1) by Tim Sandle on Scribd

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology

GMP in Practice: Regulatory Expectations for the Pharmaceutical Industry

James Vesper and Tim Sandle have a new book – ‘GMP in Practice: Regulatory Expectations for the Pharmaceutical Industry’, Fifth Edition, Revised and Expanded.

The Long-Awaited Revision and Update of GMP in Practice is Here!

Have you ever asked yourself, "Where in the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) does it say I have to do _______?" If so, look no further than PDA's GMP in Practice: Regulatory Expectations for the Pharmaceutical Industry, fifth edition, Revised and Expanded.

As companies strive to harmonize global requirements for quality systems, the 5th edition of this text provides an overview of the 34 essential global cGMP requirements that are typically included in a modern pharmaceutical quality system, including data integrity and how they have evolved. Explore risk-related questions, delve into several expectations for each quality system element encompasses, and review real-world examples from cGMP regulations from the US FDA, Health Canada, the European Union, the World Health Organization, and the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH).

If you're looking for an enhanced understanding of GMP in practice, this text is a must-have for your reference collection.

See: https://store.pda.org/ProductCatalog/Product.aspx?ID=4511

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology

Avoiding environmental monitoring ‘false negatives’

In addition to selecting the right culture media, the use of an appropriate neutraliser is important in relation to surface, and some personnel, monitoring. Neutralisers are required to overcome any residues left by disinfectants, as can be found on cleanroom surfaces or on the gloved hands of personnel. The use of a neutraliser within the culture media formulation is also necessary to overcome residues from antimicrobial compounds so that a false negative is avoided.

The use of a neutraliser is recommended in the biocontamination control standard ISO 14698;3 and, outside of pharmaceuticals, the cosmetics microbiological test standard ISO 21149 contains some useful advice on neutraliser selection.

Tim Sandle has written a new paper on the topic of neutralisers for culture media. The introduction reads:

“The selection of an appropriate neutraliser is not straightforward. The neutraliser must be non-toxic to the microorganisms expected to be recovered; be able to stop residual disinfectant activity; and, in use. This latter requirement often proves the most challenging. This article examines the most common neutralisers used; some of the problems associated with their selection; and the complexities around using the most appropriate neutralisers in the culture media most commonly used in the environmental monitoring programme.”

The reference is:

Sandle, T. (2018) Avoiding environmental monitoring ‘false negatives’: overcoming disinfectant residues with culture media neutralisers, European Pharmaceutical Review, 23 (4): 18-21

The article can be accessed here: https://www.europeanpharmaceuticalreview.com/wp-content/uploads/epr418-EnvMonitoring-IDF.pdf

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology

Working with Biohazards

Working with human pathogens or biohazards poses serious risks, not only for employees, but for the public and communities as well. Infectious agents such as microorganisms, viruses, recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules, and biological toxins present a potential for severe or lethal disease, adverse health effects, or contamination. Any unplanned exposure or release has the potential to cause extensive harm or damage to people, the environment, and society.

Vince McLeod has written an interesting article for Laboratory Manager. Here is an extract:

“The foundation for safe handling and research with infectious/biohazardous agents is an effective exposure control plan (ECP). This article discusses the basic elements of a comprehensive exposure control plan, what each element should address, and advice for successful implementation.

The ECP is essentially a biohazard safety manual developed to address the unique conditions of the current research, facility design, and personnel operations necessary to carry out the laboratory’s mission. One excellent free reference is the CDC’s Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories1 (BMBL), which contains comprehensive information on biological risk assessment and summary statements on many common infectious agents.”

To access the article, see: https://www.labmanager.com/lab-health-and-safety/2018/05/working-with-biohazards

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology

NIBSC experts will be discussing how control materials are relevant

Join us and @IBMScience at our upcoming webinar where NIBSC experts will be discussing how control materials are relevant. Book now: https://t.co/GJKm6FqYdm pic.twitter.com/BNCozPkSfu

— NIBSC_MHRA (@NIBSC_MHRA) October 29, 2018

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology

Advanced Technologies are Tackling the Global Lyme Epidemic

More than 300,000 new cases of Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne illness in the United States, are diagnosed each year. In a new interview with CMRubinWorld, Dr. Brian Fallon, Director of the Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center reveals that despite the challenges to find a cure for this complex, debilitating disease, precision medicine and biotechnology are accelerating the discovery of new tools with which doctors will be able to diagnose it and treat patients.

In an authoritative new book, Columbia University Medical Center physicians Brian Fallon and Jennifer Sotsky explain why there is much cause for optimism. “Through rapid genetic sequencing, scientists can identify many different strains of Borrelia burgdorferi (causative agent of Lyme disease) as well as new tick-borne microbial infections, such as Borrelia miyamotoi, Borrelia mayonii, and the Heartland virus,” says Fallon. The discovery of these new microbes inside ticks has significantly helped researchers since it “provides a starting point for the study of pathogenesis, vaccine development, and treatment.” Fallon notes that researchers have also been able to screen thousands of drugs to determine which have the ability to destroy Borrelia.

Read the full article here

Brian Fallon, MD, MPH is the Director of the Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the author with Jennifer Sotsky of Conquering Lyme Disease: Science Bridges the Great Divide, published in 2018 by Columbia University Press.

CMRubinWorld’s award-winning series, The Global Search for Education, brings together distinguished thought leaders in education and innovation from around the world to explore the key learning issues faced by most nations. The series has become a highly visible platform for global discourse on 21st century learning, offering a diverse range of innovative ideas which are presented by the series founder, C. M. Rubin, together with the world’s leading thinkers.

For more information on CMRubinWorld

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology

Importance of Microbial Contamination Control

Tim Sandle has written an editorial of the special edition of the Journal of GxP Compliance, dedicated to pharmaceutical microbiology.

This special edition captures some of the current themes and issues relating to pharmaceutical microbiology and contamination control, and many of the points required to develop a control strategy.

The importance of microbiological control in relation to the manufacture of pharmaceutical and healthcare products is the theme of this special compilation for IVT Network. The articles selected highlight the twin themes of maintaining control through the assessment of risk and the use of sound, scientific methods to assess risk. This latter area includes the use of rapid and alternative methods.

While microbiology plays a role in drug development, through the application of biotechnology (including the development of anti-infective agents and with the manufacture of pharmaceutical products), a considerable part of the role of the pharmaceutical microbiologist is with protecting pharmaceutical and healthcare products from spoilage by microorganisms and thus protecting patients and consumers. With both sterile and non-sterile products, the effects can range from discoloration to the potential for fatality.

The reference is:

Sandle, T. (2018) Editorial: Importance of Microbial Contamination Control, SPECIAL EDITION: Essential Microbiology for GXP Compliance: 3-6 - http://www.ivtnetwork.com/article/essential-microbiology-gxp-compliance 

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology

Disinfectant Efficacy Testing for Fungi on Non-Porous Surfaces: A Case Study

An important aspect of the selection and evaluation of disinfectants is the disinfectant qualification programme. After a disinfectant has been chosen based on its chemical properties and expected performance/effectiveness, each disinfectant should be assessed to ensure its efficacy (and for European Medicines Inspectorate and U. S. FDA regulated premises this is mandatory). Efficacy is demonstrated through performance testing to show that the disinfectant is capable of reducing the microbial bioburden in either suspension (planktonic state) or from cleanroom surfaces to an acceptable level. The disinfectant efficacy validation should provide documented evidence that the disinfectant demonstrates bactericidal, fungicidal, and/or sporicidal activity necessary to control microbial contamination in the facility. This chapter summarises the test requirements and the different standards that are currently available.

A new paper of interest:

Regulatory agencies expected the users of disinfectants within cleanrooms to evaluate the efficacy of disinfectants. Various standards are available to guide the microbiologist through this process. What is more difficult is the content of some of the standards themselves because they have not been written specifically for the healthcare sector or the pharmaceutical industry (more typically they have evolved from the food, cosmetics or environmental control sectors). It may be necessary for the microbiologist to adapt the standards to suit practical situations (backing this up with a well-thought out rationale). Another point to be considered before embarking on such validation is whether all of the standards are to be replicated or whether experimental work required by some of the standards can be provided by the manufacturer of the disinfectants.

Given that most regulators and microbiologists regard the surface test as the most meaningful of the laboratory methods, this paper addresses this test. This paper outlines and approach taking for the assessment of a disinfectant to kill fungi on a surface. Of the different disinfectant efficacy studies, surface studies are generally regarded as the most challenging and representative of actual cleanroom conditions. For this, one organism is used as an example – the fungus Cladosporium, which as presented here was an environmental isolate from a pharmaceutical cleanroom. Cladosporium is one of the most commonly detected fungi from the as-built environment.

Surface tests, however, are not straightforward. The approach presented here is based on European surface test requirements; while other approaches differ slightly, the overall methodologies are similar. Hence the approach here can be used as a case study for others to evaluate against.

The reference is:

Sandle, T. (2018) Disinfectant Efficacy Testing for Fungi on Non-Porous Surfaces: A Case Study, Journal of GxP Compliance, 22 (4): 1-12

For details see: Disinfection

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology

Webinar: In Vitro Pyrogen Detection, the new trend

Want to know more about in vitro Pyrogen detection? Find out about our new Monocyte Activation Test ready-to-use kit. Discover the benefits of the PyroMAT™ System, learn how to use it and go through a real-life case study.

The PyroMAT™ system is the only cell-line based Monocyte Activation Test (MAT) provided as a ready-to-use kit on the market: a new solution for sensitive, robust, and easy-to-perform pyrogen test

Make the move to the monocyte activation test—the only method that detects the full range of endotoxin and non-endotoxin pyrogens and contributes to the reduction of animal consumption for testing purposes.

Want to know more about our solutions? Join our live webinar on October the 25^th and find out more about the new PyroMAT™ System. Register now

Pharmaceutical Microbiology Resources

Webinar: Best Practices for Cleaning and Disinfection of Cleanrooms and Disinfection Validation

Cleaning and disinfection of cleanrooms is of great importance as part of a contamination control strategy. For this to be effective, correct disinfectants need to be selected, rotation between biocides must in place, a sporicidal agent needs to be selected, disinfectants need to be qualified cleaning frequencies need to be established, and appropriate training given. This is hampered by the lack of a global approach to satisfy regulatory agencies. This webinar provides an overview of the focal points required to achieve a global approach for cleanroom disinfection.

Webinar details:

Date: Thursday, 18 October 2018 | Time: 10:00 AM PDT, 01:00 PM EDT | Duration: 60 Minutes

Presenter: Dr. Tim Sandle, see: https://www.onlinecompliancepanel.com/webinar/Global-Best-Practices-for-Cleaning-and-Disinfection-of-Cleanrooms-and-Disinfection-Validation-505381

Points covered:

• What is cleaning and disinfection?
• How to select disinfectants?
• Global guidelines for disinfection in cleanrooms
• EU GMP (& draft Annex 1), USP <1072>, FDA aseptic processing guidance, PIC/S
• How to use disinfectants effectively
• Points for success
• Approaching disinfectant validation: Differences between European and U.S. standards
• Practical approach to disinfectant validation: what is best for pharma?Legal requirements for disinfectants: Europe and U.S.

For further information see: Online Compliance Panel

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology

PyroMAT™ System: Have you heard about the latest solutions for pyrogen detection?

PyroMAT™ System: Have you heard about the latest solutions for pyrogen detection?

The PyroMAT™ system is the only cell-line based Monocyte Activation Test (MAT) provided as a ready-to-use kit on the market: a new solution for sensitive, robust, and easy-to-perform pyrogen test

Make the move to the monocyte activation test—the only method that detects the full range of endotoxin and non-endotoxin pyrogens and contributes to the reduction of animal consumption for testing purposes.

Want to know more about our solutions? Join our live webinar on October the 25^th and find out more about the new PyroMAT™ System.

Register today