STABILITY OF ESSENTIAL DRUGS IN THE FIELD - RESULTS OF A STUDY CONDUCTED OVER A 2-YEAR PERIOD IN BURKINA-FASO

To evaluate the stability of essential drugs stored in realistic tropi cal conditions, we have carried out a two-year prospective study in we stern Burkina Faso. Twenty-seven essential drugs were stored in a rura l site and a urban one where temperature and hygrometry were recorded daily. Samples of each drug were taken for further analysis to the Wor ld Health Organization Collaborative Center for the Study of Stability of Drugs in Nantes, France every three months. Quantitative analysis showed that the majority of samples suffered no significant loss of th eir active ingredient. In contrast, ampicillin, erythromycin, sulfagua nidine, injectable furosemide, penicillin G, trimethoprim, and chloroq uine showed more than a 10% quantitative loss of their active ingredie nt. Thus, it is not recommended that these essential drugs be stored f or more than one year in a tropical climate.