subject: Safety Measures to Avoid Exposure to Hazardous drugs [print this page] Drug exposure can be very lethalDrug exposure can be very lethal. It can take place during drug manufacture and administration procedures. During these processes, accidental spills and leakage can cause serious health disorders to workers. Also patients and their family members in the immediate surroundings can be affected badly. These situations need immediate attentions. All the drug manufacture and administration organizations are focusing more on searching the solutions for this hazardous drugs exposure. Precautionary measures should be taken by all healthcare workers and employers to reduce the chances of these exposures.
To minimize these exposures, pharmaceutical engineers have designed closed system drug transfer devices as well as biological cabinets. Also harmful chemicals used in the preparation of these drugs have been reduced. But this is not a solution because these hazardous drugs can take lives as well as save lives. So limiting the use of these chemicals in the drug manufacturing process could not be avoided. However, the best solution to get rid of this exposure is to prevent the workplace from all sorts of contamination. Safety systems should be used more in drug manufacturing and handling units.
Introduction of closed system drug transfer devices has changed the scenario. These systems are air tight and leakage proof so there are no chances of exposures. It does not allow the emissions of hazardous drugs to go outside and contaminate the surroundings and also not allows the contaminations to enter the device. Hence it is a safe and a reliable device. It maintains the sterility of the product. Research is consistently going on to determine the usefulness of these closed systems and according to reports, these safety systems have proved their efficiency in minimizing the chances of exposures.
Safety Measures to Avoid Exposure to Hazardous drugs
