Simplivia Blog

Hazardous drug exposure can cause dire health effects for nurses and other healthcare workers—including fertility problems, miscarriages, and cancer. Research shows that in Europe and in the US, exposure to toxic drugs happens to more than 20 million healthcare workers every year, and over 7 million of them are nurses. Fortunately, closed administration systems provide an effective solution to the risks nurses face every day.

When it comes to engineering controls, CSTDs are an integral part of the CDC's recommendations for reducing occupational risk. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), CSTDs should be used throughout the entire process of compounding and administrating hazardous drugs.

Establishing systems to reduce hazardous drug exposure in healthcare settings ensures protection for those who routinely work with these drugs. Medical facilities need to examine which hazards are present in their environment and develop effective and innovative ways to mitigate exposure risks. Consider some of the following methods to promote safe handling of hazardous drugs.

For nurses and other healthcare professionals, the risk of exposure to hazardous drugs is genuine. About 8 million healthcare workers in the US alone are routinely exposed to cytotoxic drugs in the workplace. This exposure carries many potential health risks ranging from skin rashes to cancer. Closed system drug-transfer devices (CSTDs) are a key measure that helps protect nurses and other healthcare professionals at risk of hazardous drug exposure. Consider these common questions asked by nurses regarding CSTD use.

Closed system drug-transfer devices (CSTDs) can reduce the number of SKUs needed for drug handling protocols. They can also keep your medications sterile and thereby useable for longer. In addition, they protect healthcare staff and enable compliance with relevant regulations and guidelines. Let’s take a closer look at how consistent use of CSTDs can provide meaningful cost efficiencies.

Hazardous drugs are an ever-present and sometimes invisible threat to the health of nurses.Exposure to hazardous drugs can have significant negative side effects, including skin rashes, genetic damage, reproductive health issues and cancer. Safe handling of hazardous drugs is a key method of reducing health risks for clinical and non-clinical personnel. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provides employer guidelines on how to minimize hazardous drug risks with set protocols and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Pharmacists know that hazardous drugs are dangerous, yet fail to recognize the dangers of workplace contamination and the ease with which it occurs. Too many pharmacists skip safety protocols. When receiving, storing, or preparing hazardous drugs, many pharmacy personnel neglect to follow facility procedures and do not dispose of PPE correctly or treat hazardous drug waste as contaminated. Multiple avenues exist to increase the safety of pharmacy technology and end direct and indirect exposure to hazardous drugs.

Some of the same pharmaceutical agents that can be lifesaving for patients pose serious risks for the healthcare professionals. Occupational exposure to hazardous drugs has been linked to a range of health problems. Understanding the risks and how to effectively mitigate them can help keep both clinical and non-clinical staff safe while providing patients with the treatments they need.

Monoclonal antibodies, or mAbs, have many beneficial applications in oncology. For those who have cancer, treatment with mAbs could mean fewer side effects than chemotherapy drugs. However, despite being an important treatment modality, mAbs carry the risk of side effects for patients or occupational exposure for medical staff. Let's take a closer look at mAbs and how medical professionals can work with them safely.

Wipe sampling is an important method to determine the level of contamination on surfaces from chemotherapy drugs and other hazardous materials. The process for wipe sampling is referenced explicitly in OSHA literature, giving employers essential safety guidance. Even with this documentation, some additional tips can help make the process more efficient and optimize worker safety.

Some of the same pharmaceutical and biological agents used in clinical care settings for humans are now available to treat animals. This opens up the range of therapeutic options for treating cancers and other severe conditions, which is great news for animal lovers. The use of these drugs, however, does not come without risks.

With over 1.7 million new cancer cases in the United States each year, oncology pharmacists and providers face unique challenges and discoveries in their ever-changing field. Managing cancer care during COVID-19 adds yet another layer of complexity. It's hard to know for certain what the landscape of oncology will look like years from now, but we can take a look at the top 7 trends in oncology pharmacy and care to see where we're headed.