Dr Tim Sandle, Head, Microbiology at Bio Products Laboratory and visiting tutor at the Department of Microbiology, University of Manchester, UK discusses some innovations relating to cleanroom and clean device operations, together with personnel control and environmental monitoring. The article emphasises the importance of ensuing that good cleanroom design factors necessary for ensuring contamination control are met
Pharmaceutical manufacturers of both sterile and non-sterile products, and medical devices, are required to demonstrate that manufacturing processes and procedures minimise any potential contamination to the product from the manufacturing environment. Contamination can arise from a number of sources: water, air, surfaces and personnel, each of which poses a potential risk to product.
These risks of contamination are avoided by putting environmental controls in place (through correct grade of air-supply, satisfactory cleaning and disinfection practices and so on). Where controls cannot off-set every contamination risk, and also as a means to demonstrate the level of control, environmental monitoring programmes are devised and put into action(1).
The primary protection from contamination is through well-constructed and maintained cleanrooms. This is supported by trained personnel, following strict gowning protocols, and cleaning and disinfection(2). Once environmental control has been accomplished, verification is undertaken through environmental monitoring (for both particulates and viable microorganisms).
Cleanrooms
Cleanrooms and clean air devices are typically classified according to their use (the main activity within each room or zone) and confirmed by the cleanliness of the air by the measurement of particles. The primary objective of cleanrooms in pharma processing is to minimise and control microbial and particulate contamination. There are many sources of contamination.
There are four principles applying to control of airborne microorganisms in cleanrooms. These are(3):
- Filtration (through the use of HEPA filters). The air entering a cleanroom from outside is filtered to exclude dust, and the air inside is constantly re-circulated through HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters (alternative filter are ultra-low penetration air (ULPA) filters). This is controlled through a HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system.
- Dilution (to ensure that particles generated in cleanrooms, in addition to those which pass the filters, are carried away by diluting the area with new ‘clean’ air).
- Directional Air Flow (to ensure that air blows away from critical zones, as particles and microorganisms cannot ‘swim upstream’ against a directional air flow). This is achieved through pressure differentials.
- Air Movement (rapid air movement is important for as long as particles and microorganisms stay suspended in the air they are not really a problem, for it is only when they settle out that they become an actual cause of contamination).
Innovations with cleanrooms
There have been several advancements or changes in approach relating to cleanrooms. These include the use of modular cleanrooms and studies in energy efficiency, designed to make cleanrooms cost effective whilst still maintaining contamination control principles.
Cleanroom design
Modern approaches to cleanroom design is aimed at ensuring that the cleanroom is designed at optimising contamination control. It is important to dedicate time in designing cleanrooms and the equipment located in cleanrooms for, if there is a design fault in one part, this will affect the items of equipment and if there is a fault in conception stage this will be expensive and time consuming to rectify.
For cleanroom design, modern approaches utilise Computer Aided Engineering software for the design process, such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) software. Such software covers geometry, spatial relationships, light analysis, geographic information, quantities and properties of building components (for example manufacturers’ details)(4). Systems, assemblies and sequences can be shown in a relative scale with the entire facility or group of facilities. When designing modern cleanrooms, the following approach should be adopted:
- The type and function of the cleanroom should be established. This should include the required cleanroom grades or classes and how cleanrooms of different grades will interact (including requirements for air-locks and pressure cascades).
- The most important aspect is drawing up the process flow. Here the cleanroom management, together with engineers and quality assurance personnel, should map the path that equipment, product and operators will take in the cleanroom.
- Established quality risk management tools like HACCP (hazard analysis and critical control points) or FMEA (failure modes and effects analysis) can be used for this purpose. Areas which pose a contamination control risk should be noted and attempts should be made to design these risk areas out (the principles of quality by design). Other considerations can also be included at this stage, including whether there is adequate clearance under door frames for equipment to pass through.
- In the design, there should be sufficient space for equipment and connections.
- The cleanroom should be constructed from a material which is compatible with different cleaning and disinfection solutions.
- Ideally, a mock-up of the cleanroom should be constructed. This is particularly important for testing the process, product and personnel workflow. In terms of understanding contamination control it is essential to understand what objects are passed from one class of cleanroom to another.
Modular cleanrooms and bespoke design
Modular cleanroom are cleanrooms that are assembled from prefabricated modules. This process of cleanroom construction differs from standard (or ‘common’) cleanrooms in that:
- Common cleanrooms are assembled at the construction site from many elements
- For modular cleanrooms a significant part of assembling works is done at the factory that produces modules. Only assembling of complete modules remains for the customer’s site.
Common cleanrooms are tailor made cleanrooms. Their design follows specific layouts that are drawn by the technologist from understanding specific processes. Whereas modular cleanrooms are often designed to fit into existing spaces. With modular cleanrooms other restrictions can appear. This is because the cleanroom construction process is separated into two parts, which are executed in two different places: the modules manufacturer and the customer’s site. This can present certain difficulties in terms of transport and later assembly (5).
Antimicrobial coatings
Some types of equipment and surfaces can be manufactured with antimicrobial coatings. One example is the incorporation of silver or copper which are effective against a range of micro-organisms. An advantage of silver ions, for example, is that although they have antimicrobial properties, silver is rarely toxic against human cells. Examples of the application of silver include implements like forceps. Also, in relation to surfaces, the incorporation of wipeable surfaces onto equipment allows for the easier cleaning and disinfection. Some of these innovations include polythene covered computer keyboards.
Energy efficiency
Cleanroom technologies are not only directed towards contamination control. The energy efficiency of cleanrooms is currently of great importance for companies who wish to save costs and to reduce the amount of carbon generated. To address this International Standard ISO 14001, which describes environmental management and practices and EN 16001, a European energy standard, are becoming increasingly used (both standards are likely to be amalgamated into international energy standard ISO 5001). Despite the appeal of controlling energy consumption, care must be taken when adopting such standards in relation to contamination control for actions to alter the operation of HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning) parameters can have an impact upon the level of non-viable particles and viable counts. Therefore microbiologists should always be involved in any energy saving projects.
Barrier technology
The use of barrier technology protects critical cleanroom operations. Within many cleanrooms unidirectional airflow (UDAF) units are found. A UDAF is classified as a minienvironment; an alternative term is ‘separative devices’ (separative devices range from open to closed systems and include isolators and Rapid Access Barrier Systems (RABS)). These are localised environments created by an enclosure to isolate a product or process from the surrounding environment. The advantages in using a minienvironment include the following:
- Minienvironments may create better contamination control and process integration.
- Minienvironments may maintain better contamination control by better control of pressure difference or through the use of unidirectional airflows.
- Minienvironments may potentially reduce energy costs.
Of these types of micro-environments, the most widely used for contamination control in relation to aseptically filled products are isolators.
Isolators intended for aseptic processing are required to be operated under positive pressure and are subjected to decontamination process before start of the batch processing. Modern isolators more often use vapourised hydrogen peroxide, although alternatives are available including peracetic acid or chlorine dioxide(6). These methods can also be deployed for the decontamination of cleanrooms.
The key principles for isolator use are (7