Guidance to Ensure the Safe Handling of Oral Hazardous Agents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
The hospital pharmacy professional standards have designated the compounding of sterile chemotherapy as the major responsibility of pharmacists. Over the last few decades, the use of oral hazardous drugs (HD) has increased, constituting a risk to occupational health. Hazardous drugs maybe exposed to healthcare workers throughout several stages of the work process, including preparation, administration, transportation, disposal, and storage, if they are not well handled. The likelihood
that HDs pose an occupational risk depends on a number of variables, such as the route of exposure, drug strength, drug toxicity, and drug formulation. However, the risk of contamination and exposure associated with the oral tablet form is often related to the drug’s propensity to emit dust particles. Plain crushed pills, coated tablets (e.g., film-coated tablets), and capsules have varying degrees of exposure risk. Generally, coated tablets and capsules seldom generate dust during medication administration
unless an accident happens or the product is deliberately crushed. Nonetheless, a variety of situations may necessitate the cutting or crushing of medications. Consequently, oral HDs must have a suitable step-by-step procedure to ensure safe handling throughout all processes. As a result, this article presents an overview of several aspects and is a guide for proper management of oral HDs.

Keywords: Anticancer drug, hazardous drug, occupational risk