USP publishes first global health standard
Thursday, November 3, 2016
The United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) has published its first global health standard. The standard is about an antiseptic, and it is aimed at assisting newborn children in developing countries.
The USP is a compendium of drugs, active substances and testing standards (covering areas like chemical and microbiological analysis), with a focus on demonstrating the efficacy and safety of medicines.
The USP has extended its remit to include a global health standard, and it is likely to be the first of several such standards. The aim of the standards will be to examine high-burden health challenges outside of the U.S.
The first standard addresses a drug used to save millions of new-borns at high-risk of infection and death: chlorhexidine gluconate topical gel. Chlorhexidine is an antibacterial used as an antiseptic and for other applications. Chlorhexidine gluconate, at 2 to 4 percent, acts as a skin cleanser solution with persistent anti-infective activity. It is used for surgical site preventive cleaning and as a hand disinfectant (as would be used by health care professionals.) Chlorhexidine is also used as an active ingredient in mouthwash designed to reduce dental plaque and oral bacteria.
Source: Digital Journal (link opens in a new window)
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