Article
Study Identifies Lapses in Safe Chemotherapy Administration
Chemotherapy drugs, which could be poisons, can result in adverse health outcomes in healthcare workers who administer them to patients without adequate safety measures.
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
A new National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study, published online in the , found that recommended safe handling practices for workers who administer antineoplastic drugs in healthcare settings are not always followed.
Results are derived from the 2011 Health and Safety Practices Survey of Healthcare Workers, the largest federally-sponsored survey of healthcare workers in the U.S., which addresses safety and health practices relative to use of hazardous chemicals. This paper presents findings on current administrative and engineering control practices, personal protective equipment (PPE), and barriers to using recommended PPE during administration of antineoplastic drugs by nearly 2,100 oncology nurses and other healthcare personnel who completed a module addressing antineoplastic drug administration.
Report on MedicalXpress: http://bit.ly/1yHobXY
