subject: Occupational Exposures to hazardous Drugs and the fatal consequences [print this page] Antineoplastic and cytotoxic drugs used in the treatment of cancer i.e. chemotherapy are very hazardous. These drugs can adversely affect the physicians, nurses, drug retailers and other professionals engaged in various drug related activities like drug manufacture, transportation, disposal and storage. Various guidelines formulated by healthcare units focuses on the use of closed systems during drug related activities to minimize the chances of exposures to hazardous drugs.
Closed System drug Transfer devices have proved their efficiency in reducing the risks of exposures to perilous drugs. Occupational exposure to hazardous drugs can be very lethal for the healthcare workers and other professionals involved in drug administration and handling activities. The best way to shun this situation is to prevent the surroundings from being contaminated by harmful chemicals. Leakage and spillage of these perilous drugs can contaminate the environment. When the healthcare workers comes in contact to these disinfections, harmful chemicals enter their body and causes severe damage. Use of closed systems can avoid these situations as they are airtight and leak proof.
Many pharmaceutical and drug manufacturing industries have developed various safety systems. These systems facilitate the transfer of medications in a closed way hence there are no chances of drug spillage and leakage. This system does not allow the hazardous drugs to escape out and also does not allow the surroundings contaminations to enter the system. Thus it is highly efficient and reliable. As there are no chances of escape, the surroundings are free from all sorts of contaminations. Hence the healthcare workers and other professionals in the workplaces are secure. Some of these safety systems include syringes and vials fitted with luer lock fittings. Also these are sealed with airtight membranes having a pressure equalization system. Therefore we can say the invention of closed systems has given new dimensions to the medical world.
Occupational Exposures to hazardous Drugs and the fatal consequences
