[e-drug] Paediatric formulations for malaria drugs (6)

["FH Jansen" <fhjansen@skynet.be>]

E-DRUG: Paediatric formulations for malaria drugs (6)
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Dear E-druggers,

The issue presented by Dr Atemnkeng is important indeed. A good preparation
should protect against bacterial contamination. Therefore antibacterial 
substances are added to dry preparations and they are expected to be active
over the time that the pharmaceutical product is active and is being used.
This implies a limited period after reconstitution. In the Belgian
artemether-lumefantrine product discussed in earlier E-drug postings the
antibacterial products are of the so-called parabenes: methyl and propyl
parabene (methyl parabene is the methyl ester of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid).
These products are stable throughout the shelf life of the pharmaceutical
product and they ensure that in the 2 weeks after preparing the suspension
in water, bacterial contamination does not occur beyond the limits of
pharmacopoeal recommendations. 

Sincerely yours,

Dr. F. Herwig Jansen
Turnhout
Belgium
E-mail: fhjansen@skynet.be