We further examined the requirements outlined in the textbooks. The textbooks clearly state that when preparing medications, after removing the aluminum cap of the liquid bottle, the rubber stopper should be routinely disinfected with povidone-iodine, alcohol, or iodine tincture. The disinfection area must cover the rubber stopper, the surrounding aluminum cap, and the neck of the bottle down to the lower end of the aluminum cap. After disinfection, the bottle should be allowed to dry before adding the medication. The purpose of this disinfection is to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms on the stopper.
However, the situation differs for the widely used polypropylene plastic infusion bottles. These bottles undergo high-temperature sterilization during production, and a thin polypropylene sheet separates the bottle stopper from the infusion solution, ensuring the solution remains free from bacterial and particulate contamination. Consequently, it is generally believed that the stopper does not need to be disinfected when opening or adding medications.
Notably, textbooks and relevant disinfection and isolation guidelines do not clearly specify whether such infusion bottles require disinfection.
In summary, for polypropylene plastic infusion bottles produced by reputable manufacturers, there is no need to sterilize the stopper when opening or adding medication, provided the bottle is within its validity period and the packaging remains intact. However, for other types of plastic bottled liquids, conventional disinfection practices as outlined in textbooks should be followed.