| Handling toxic medicines can be the root cause of | | | | In many cases of Chemotherapy, while |
| adverse health conditions. This article speaks | | | | transferring cytotoxin from a vial to the syringe, |
| about the importance of Safe handling of | | | | vapors and aerosols are expelled in the process |
| hazardous drugs.Exposure to hazardous | | | | exposing the nurses and other health care |
| medication can cause adverse effects like allergies | | | | personnel to toxic chemicals. Safe handling of |
| and skin infections, infertility, reproductive | | | | hazardous drugs includes implementing Engineering |
| disorders, and various types of cancers. Handling, | | | | controls in the form of machines and equipment |
| preparation and administration of such medicines | | | | designed to curb the adverse effects of these |
| need to be done with care. Any lapse of | | | | substances. One such engineering control is the |
| precautionary measures can expose nurses, | | | | closed system drug transfer device which |
| pharmacists and other healthcare personnel to | | | | prevents drug leakage during transfer from one |
| adverse health effects. | | | | container to another. Administrative controls |
| Antineoplastics, cytotoxic substances, antiviral | | | | include policies, methods and procedures adopted |
| agents, biologic agents and immunosuppressive | | | | to implement these safety measures; these |
| agents are the various categories of dangerous | | | | controls are equally important to reduce exposure |
| medications. Direct contact of such substances | | | | to toxic medications. |
| with skin and inhalation of aerosols and vapors, | | | | Though all these measures have been known for |
| drug leakage during transfer and contamination of | | | | years, there are frequent cases of occupational |
| surfaces are the different ways in which health | | | | exposure to hazardous medications due to the |
| care personnel are often exposed to the | | | | lack of serious approach of nurses and health |
| hazardous medicines. Exposure to risk from such | | | | care personnel towards the risk of exposure to |
| medicines can be minimized by the use of | | | | such drugs. Other reason is the personal |
| personal protective equipment like masks, gloves, | | | | protective equipment is cumbrous and its usage is |
| gowns and caps. Safe handling of such hazardous | | | | time consuming. Safe handling of hazardous drugs |
| drugs can be implemented by the use of | | | | can be effectively implemented through educating |
| machines, equipment and biological safety cabinets. | | | | and training the nurses, pharmacists and others |
| Research has proved that the implementation of | | | | involved in handling, preparing and administering |
| safety measures has reduced the risk of | | | | toxic medications. |
| occupational exposure to such harmful chemicals. | | | | |