What is a major concern when using the parenteral route for drug administration?

A major concern when using the parenteral route for drug administration is the bypassing of the skin and gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which can significantly increase the risk of infection. When administering medications parenterally, typically through injections, the drug is delivered directly into the body, often through a needle puncturing the skin. This breaks the natural barrier provided by the skin, which serves to protect against pathogens. Additionally, the GI tract plays a vital role in filtering and processing substances ingested orally, further reducing the risk of infection that can be encountered through injections.

The other aspects of drug administration through the parenteral route, such as increased patient comfort, greater effectiveness compared to oral doses, and the reduced need for sterility precautions, do not accurately reflect the primary concern in this context. Increased patient comfort may vary based on individual perspectives and specific scenarios, while effectiveness compared to oral doses depends on the drug and condition treated but is not inherently a concern of the route itself. Furthermore, parenteral administration necessitates stringent sterility precautions to minimize the risk of infection, making the idea of a reduced need for such precautions inaccurate. Thus, the bypassing of protective barriers is indeed a critical issue in parenteral drug administration.