The Infection Rate of Intralesional Triamcinolone and The Safety of Compounding in Dermatology for Intradermal and Subcutaneous Injection: A Retrospective Chart Review

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-19-2020

Publication Title

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Intralesional injection of sterile medications remains a mainstay in dermatology, enabling a tailored, low-cost, in-office therapy. Following the 2012 United States outbreak of fungal meningitis from contaminated intrathecally administered corticosteroids, there has been increased regulation of in-office compounding, regardless of administration route. Studies demonstrating the safety data of in-office corticosteroid compounding for intradermal or subcutaneous use are lacking.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of infection caused by compounded in-office intralesional triamcinolone.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review identified subjects that received in-office intralesional corticosteroid injections in 2016. Medical documentation within 30 days of injection was reviewed for suspected infection.

RESULTS: Charts of 4370 intralesional triamcinolone injections were assessed, 2780/4370 (64%) being compounded triamcinolone with bacteriostatic saline. Eleven suspected localized infections (0.25%) were identified, with 4/11 in the compounding cohort. Of these, 7/11 occurred after injection of an "inflamed cyst." No hospitalizations or deaths occurred. No temporal/locational relationships were identified.

LIMITATIONS: This study was limited to two academic institutions. A 30-day post injection time frame of was used.

CONCLUSION: In-office compounding for intralesional dermal and subcutaneous administration is safe when sterile products are used by medical practitioners. There is no increased risk of compounded triamcinolone relative to non-compounded triamcinolone.

PubMed ID

32442698

ePublication

ePub ahead of print

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