Hazardous spills: the safe handling of hazardous drugs
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Series Title(s):
- Pennsylvania patient safety advisory
- Contributor(s):
- Pennsylvania. Patient Safety Authority. ECRI (Organization) Institute for Safe Medication Practices.
- Publication:
- [Harrisburg, Pa.] : Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, c2008
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Chemical Hazard Release -- prevention & control Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions Environmental Exposure -- prevention & control Hazardous Substances Occupational Exposure -- prevention & control Refuse Disposal -- methods Safety Management -- methods Guideline Adherence Guidelines as Topic Health Personnel Inpatients Program Development Humans Pennsylvania United States
- Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- Healthcare practitioners may underestimate the exposure risk associated with hazardous drugs. The risk of exposure extends along the drugs' entire life cycle, including the manufacturing, transporting, dispensing, and administering processes. The safe handling of hazardous drug spills is uniquely different from other healthcare spills, and exposure extends beyond patients and healthcare practitioners because nonclinical staff are often involved with the containment and disposal of spills. PA-PSRS has received more than 40 reports of patients and staff exposure to hazardous drugs. Many events involved intravenous (IV) tubing disconnections resulting in hazardous drugs leaking to the floor, the patient, hospital gowns, and linens. Many exposure incidents were attributed to IV port or site leaks and involved IV spiking issues, resulting in large hazardous spills. Risk reduction strategies include developing a hazardous drugs program; encouraging personnel compliance in the storing, dispensing, transporting, and administering of these medications; managing spills; and disposing of hazardous drugs in such a way that the most appropriate guidelines are used to minimize exposure.
- Copyright:
- Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY-NC-DC license. (More information)
- NLM Unique ID:
- 101570225 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101570225