Adherence to safe handling guidelines by healthcare workers who administer antineoplastic drugs

Details

• Personal Author:
  Boiano, James M. ; Steege, Andrea L. ; Sweeny MH
• Description:
  The toxicity of antineoplastic drugs is well-documented. Many are known or suspected human carcinogens where no safe exposure level exists. Authoritative guidelines developed by professional practice organizations and federal agencies for the safe handling of these hazardous drugs have been available for nearly three decades. As a means of evaluating the extent of use of primary prevention practices such as engineering, administrative and work practice controls, personal protective equipment (PPE) and barriers to using PPE, NIOSH conducted a web survey of healthcare workers in 2011. The study population primarily included members of professional practice organizations representing healthcare occupations which routinely use or come in contact with selected chemical agents. All respondents who indicated that they administered antineoplastic drugs in the past week were eligible to complete a hazard module addressing self-reported health and safety practices on this topic. Most (98%) of the 2,069 respondents of this module were nurses. Working primarily in hospitals, outpatient care centers and physician offices, respondents reported that they collectively administered over 90 specific antineoplastic drugs in the past week, with carboplatin, cyclophosphamide and paclitaxel the most common. Examples of activities which increase exposure risk, expressed as percent of respondents, included: failure to wear nonabsorbent gown with closed front and tight cuffs (42%); intravenous (I.V.) tubing primed with antineoplastic agent by respondent (6%) or by pharmacy (12%); potentially contaminated clothing taken home (12%); spill or leak of antineoplastic agent during administration (12%); failure to wear chemotherapy gloves (12%); and lack of hazard awareness training (4%). The most common reason for not wearing gloves or gowns was "skin exposure was minimal"; 4% of respondents, however, reported skin contact during handling and administration. Despite the longstanding availability of safe handling guidance, recommended practices are not always followed, underscoring the importance of training and education for employers and workers. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Antineoplastic Agents Carcinogens Chemistry Education Hazardous Substances Health Personnel Men Neoplasms Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Safety Management Staff Development Women

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• Keywords:
  Antineoplastic-agents Author Keywords: Antineoplastic Drug Administration Chemical-properties Chemotherapy Drugs Exposure-levels Hazardous Drugs Hazards Health-care-personnel Healthcare Workers Humans Medical-personnel Nurses Risk-factors Safe Handling Practices Safety-measures Surveillance-programs Toxic-effects Toxins Training Web Based Survey

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• ISSN:
  1545-9624
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  11
• Issue:
  11
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20044193
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Hyg 2014 Nov; 11(11):728-740
• Contact Point Address:
  James M. Boiano, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Surveillance Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, 1090 Tusculum Ave., MS R-17, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998
• Email:
  jboiano@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2015
• NORA Priority Area:
  Healthcare and Social Assistance
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:92ea18f4e13a16b2592c48a21d54a74aed70dd46f56bde4c12650ad02e84a272ea6f8af21505abe941edb929976a3febbf33b5481b3e07be4680be8b6be19612
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/199969/cdc_199969_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 145.31 KB ]