How often to wash refrigerators in a pharmacy: schedule and norms of SanPiN

Pharmacy refrigeration equipment is not just a household appliance, but a critical element of the drug safety system. Medicines with special storage conditions are stored inside the chambers, where the slightest deviation in temperature or the presence of bacterial flora can lead to damage to expensive medicines and vaccines.

The question of how often to wash refrigerators in a pharmacy is regulated by strict sanitary rules and internal regulations, violation of which threatens with serious fines from Roszdravnadzor. Regular cleaning prevents the growth of mold, the spread of pathogenic microorganisms and ensures the correct operation of temperature sensors.

In this article we will analyze in detail the approved cleaning schedules, the specifics of using disinfectants and the technical nuances of maintaining professional pharmaceutical refrigerators.

Regulatory requirements and sanitary rules

The main document regulating the activities of pharmacies in the Russian Federation is SanPiN 2.1.7.2790-10 "Sanitary and epidemiological requirements for the management of medical waste" and current rules GMP (good manufacturing practice) for distributors. According to these documents, cleanliness in the storage areas for medicines must be maintained at all times.

There are clear time frames for general cleaning for refrigeration equipment. Typically, complete defrosting and disinfection are carried out at least once a quarter, however, routine cleaning of internal shelves and doors is carried out weekly or as they become dirty.

⚠️ Attention: During the period of epidemiological rise of infectious diseases, the cleaning schedule may be changed by the pharmacy management in the direction of increasing the frequency of disinfection measures.

Each cleaning action must be recorded in a special temperature log and cleaning log. The absence of records is equivalent to non-compliance with sanitary standards, which is a gross violation of licensing requirements.

The use of aggressive chemicals containing chlorine in high concentrations can damage door seals, so the choice disinfector must be consistent with the equipment manufacturer's instructions.

Daily monitoring and routine cleaning

In addition to deep cleaning, there is the concept of routine cleaning, which is carried out daily or at the beginning of each work shift. The pharmacist-pharmacist or junior medical staff is required to visually assess the condition of the storage chambers.

The process begins with wiping the external surfaces: doors, handles and control panels. It is on the handles that the largest number of microbes accumulate, so they are treated with alcohol wipes or special solutions.

• 🧼 Wiping external surfaces with a disinfectant solution.
• 👀 Visual inspection of the seals for crumbs or adhering dust.
• 🌡️ Checking the readings of thermometers and temperature recorders.

If traces of scattered powders or spilled liquids are found on the shelves, they must be removed immediately, without waiting for scheduled cleaning. Contact of substances on the evaporator can cause corrosion of the metal or a violation of the tightness of the system.

For daily treatment, ready-made wipes containing isopropyl alcohol are often used, which do not require rinsing with water and quickly evaporate without leaving streaks.

General cleaning and defrosting: step-by-step algorithm

General cleaning is a complex process that requires temporary removal of medicines from the refrigerator. Such work should be carried out during the hours of minimal pharmacy traffic or on weekends in order to minimize the risk of breaking the cold chain.

The first stage is always preparation: staff must wear personal protective equipment, and all drugs must be moved to backup refrigerators or thermal containers with cold elements.

After defrosting, the inner walls are washed with warm water and a neutral detergent. It is important to thoroughly rinse all corners and drainage holes where mucus often accumulates.

The next step is disinfection. The solution is applied by irrigation or wiping and the exposure specified in the instructions for the product is maintained. After this, the surfaces must be wiped with clean water to remove chemical residues.

⚠️ Attention: It is strictly forbidden to use abrasive sponges or metal scrapers to wash the internal chambers, since microscratches become an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria.

The final stage is to thoroughly wipe all surfaces dry and ventilate chambers before loading drugs. The humid environment inside a closed refrigerator promotes the rapid development of mold.

Specifics of cleaning refrigerators for vaccines

Refrigerators intended for storing vaccines and immunobiological drugs require a special approach due to the high sensitivity of these medications to temperature fluctuations. The frequency of their maintenance may be higher than standard.

In such models, strong-smelling substances cannot be used, since some vaccines can adsorb odors, which changes their organoleptic properties. It is recommended to use products based on quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC).

Particular attention is paid to the cleanliness of temperature sensors and ventilation holes. The dustiness of these elements leads to distortion of the thermostat readings, which can cause defrosting or, conversely, freezing of live vaccines.

To control the effectiveness of cleaning in large pharmacy chains, microbiological rinsing is sometimes carried out from the internal surfaces of the equipment, which is sent to the laboratory.

Means and instruments used

The choice of detergents in a pharmacy is limited to the list of approved drugs that have the appropriate registration certificates. The use of household chemicals from the supermarket is unacceptable.

The most common products are solutions based on QAC, hydrogen peroxide and alcohols. They have a wide spectrum of action and are safe for plastic and rubber when properly diluted.

Cleaning tools must be labeled and used exclusively for refrigeration equipment. Buckets, rags and brushes are stored in a special cabinet in a clean state.

It is prohibited to use the same rags to wash the floor and wipe the internal shelves of the refrigerator. This is a direct path to cross-contamination.

Paperwork and logs

Any action with refrigeration equipment in a pharmacy must be documented. This is a requirement of GMP and sanitary rules, which allows you to track the service history of each piece of equipment.

There is a special logbook for recording the operation of refrigeration equipment, where data on temperature, cleaning time and products used are entered. Records are kept in ink, corrections are not allowed.

• 📅 Date and time of the beginning and end of cleaning.
• 🧴 Name of the disinfectant and its concentration.
• 👤 Full name and signature of the employee who carried out the work.
• ✅ Full name and signature of the person in charge who accepted the work.

In the event of unscheduled cleaning due to contamination, a corresponding note is made in the log indicating the reason. This may serve as a justification for checking if at the time of the incident the temperature regime was briefly violated.

The logs are stored for the period established by the pharmacy case nomenclature, usually at least 3-5 years, and must be available to regulatory authorities at any time.

Frequent errors when servicing equipment

Even Experienced pharmacists sometimes make mistakes that can reduce the efficiency of the refrigerator. One of the most common is ignoring the condition of the rubber seals.

Dirt and grease that accumulate in the folds of the seal destroy the rubber and compromise the seal of the chamber. The refrigerator begins to work more intensely, consuming more electricity and creating the risk of compressor overheating.

Another mistake is using hot water to speed up defrosting. A sharp temperature change can cause deformation of the plastic elements of the internal chamber or even cracks in the evaporator.

⚠️ Attention: Never use hair dryers or fan heaters to accelerate the thawing of ice in professional pharmacy refrigerators - this can lead to failure of the electronics.

It is also a mistake to load the refrigerator “under the beginning." Air circulation must be free, otherwise the temperature at different points of the chamber will differ, and the drugs in the depths may deteriorate.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions