What should you do if medication looks contaminated?

• A. Continue to use
• B. Throw it out
• C. Filter and reuse
• D. Refrigerate and reuse

Answer: (B)

When a medication looks contaminated, the safety of the patient must come first. Contamination can mean the product has bacterial, fungal, or chemical changes that could cause infection, toxicity, or unpredictable dosing. Therefore, it should be discarded immediately. Reusing, filtering and reusing, or refrigerating and reusing do not remove contaminants or restore the drug’s safety and potency; these practices can still transmit germs or cause adverse effects. The proper course is to set the item aside, dispose of it according to your facility’s policy and local regulations, and obtain a safe replacement from the pharmacist or clinician.