Med Prep

Med Prep: History of Antibiotics

As an intravenous compounding pharmacy in New Jersey, Med Prep provides health care providers, such as clinics and hospitals, with custom mixed intravenous medications including antiemetic drugs, oncology medications, and antibiotics. Now used commonly in medical care to treat illness, antibiotics’ evolution parallels the progress of human health care.

Doctors treat bacterial infections with antibiotics, which scientists originally derived from microorganisms that controlled or killed other bacteria. While synthetic antibiotics are now among the most commonly administered, in their earliest forms antibiotics came exclusively from bacterial sources. Even in ancient times, societies used a form of antibiotics to treat illness. For instance, ancient Greeks used molds, plants, and moldy bread to treat infections, while other early physicians used an array of natural mold-bearing substances in an attempt to cure disease.

In the 19th century, many scientists in Europe began to observe that mold seemed to inhibit bacterial growth. These observations arose in conjunction with the growing popularity of the germ theory of disease, which linked illness to bacterial activity. It wasn’t until the 20th century, however, that antibiotics began to come into their own.

In 1928, Scottish pharmacologist Alexander Fleming mistakenly left culture plates of Staphylococcus bacteria on his workbench during a two-week vacation. When he returned, he found the plates contaminated with Penicillium notatum mold. On observation, Fleming noticed that the bacteria did not grow anywhere near the mold, and postulated that the mold must somehow inhibit bacterial growth. Following that discovery, Fleming refined the substance for medical use, calling it penicillin and ushering in the use of modern-day antibiotics.

Med Prep: Pharmaceutical Compounding

By Med Prep

Licensed in the state of New Jersey, Med Prep offers intravenous drug compounding services to health care practitioners. Pharmaceutical compounding allows medical providers to tailor solutions specifically to patient needs, formulating dose-specific medications based on historical usage, while also reducing drug waste. Med Prep pharmaceutical compounding is a cost effective, minimal waste alternative that allows its clients to maintain smaller stores while limiting disposal of expired medications.

Pharmaceutical compounding pre-dates mass manufacturing of drugs products, following a method used in ancient times when early societies created medications from natural elements, such as plants and animals. Unlike their early predecessors, however, today’s compounding pharmacies use sterile elements and adhere to strict standards of safety and quality assurance. At Med Prep, for instance, the pharmacy complies with USP 797 standards for the preparation of sterile products. Going beyond those standards, Med Prep also tests each of the compounding staff members daily to assure they perform without introducing contaminants into the pharmaceuticals. Resultantly, the compounded products from Med Prep represent one of the highest quality and sterility pharmaceuticals available.

Med Prep compounds many formulations for medical use, including local and general anesthetics, anticoagulants, electrolyte solutions, antibiotics, and medication for pain management. The formulations are available for intravenous delivery tailored to an array of medical applications.

Med Prep: Electrolyte Solutions

Your body requires a balance of electrolytes to survive. Electrolytes are positive or negative ions that conduct electrical signals in your body, which help cells function normally and control nerve conduction. These vital salts help regulate heartbeat, control muscle contraction and relaxation, and serve many other functions as well. Since some electrolytes have a positive charge and some negative, you need a balance of both types in order for normal function. The major electrolytes in your body include sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, phosphate, and sulfate.

Many conditions may lead to electrolyte imbalances. Your body loses electrolytes through urine, sweat, vomit, and diarrhea. While your kidneys can typically maintain electrolyte balance, occasionally they can’t keep up of you are experiencing excessive amounts of these bodily functions. When this happens, you may begin to have an electrolyte imbalance. When your electrolytes become imbalanced, you may experience an array of symptoms ranging from mild to life-threatening.

Some symptoms of electrolyte imbalance include nausea, confusion, muscle cramp or spasm, fainting, dry mouth, heart palpitations, seizures, loss of coordination, low blood pressure, and coma. When your body loses fluids and electrolytes in large volume, it is important to replenish them in order to avoid life-threatening complications. In cases of mild electrolyte imbalance, an electrolyte drink should help; however, in severe situations, more drastic solutions are called for. This is where Med Prep comes in. The New Jersey compounding pharmacy makes intravenous electrolyte solutions that physicians can administer to rebalance electrolytes. Because the solution goes directly into the bloodstream, the body responds immediately and can return to a state of electrolyte balance quickly and effectively.