What is the most common route of exposure to hazardous drugs
Ava Robinson
Updated on May 16, 2026
The most common routes of exposure are skin contact with hazardous drug-contaminated workplace surfaces and inhalation of drug aerosols generated during compounding or administration of hazardous drugs.
What are the routes of exposure to hazardous drugs?
Workers can be exposed to hazardous drugs through breathing vapors, dusts, or aerosols, absorbing it through skin contact (for example, touching dust or liquid residue on surfaces), swallowing it, or accidental injection.
What is the highest exposure to hazardous drugs?
Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, oncology nurses, and other nursing personnel have the highest risk for HD exposure, but all healthcare workers who come into contact with HDs are at risk, including those in shipping/receiving, housekeeping, laundry, and waste disposal.
What is the most common type of hazardous drugs exposure for healthcare workers?
Routes of Occupational Exposure In surgical suites, surgical staff can be exposed to airborne anesthetics. But research indicates that the most common route of exposure to hazardous drugs is through dermal exposure.How does occupational exposure to hazardous drugs occur?
Exposure to hazardous drugs can occur through4: skin absorption. inhalation of aerosols and drug particles. ingestion from contaminated food or drink or other hand to mouth contact.
What are potential hazards?
A hazard is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on something or someone. Basically, a hazard is the potential for harm or an adverse effect (for example, to people as health effects, to organizations as property or equipment losses, or to the environment).
What are the three risk groups for hazardous drugs quizlet?
Hazardous drugs include drugs that are: teratogenic, carcinogenic, genotoxic (damage the DNA and can cause cancer), have reproductive toxicity, and cause organ toxicity at low doses.
Is Durvalumab a hazardous drug?
Not a hazardous substance or mixture. This is a monoclonal antibody and may have pharmacological effects.What are three types of hazardous drugs?
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. The format for the 2014 list was revised to include three groups of hazardous drugs: (1) Antineoplastic drugs; (2) Non-antineoplastic hazardous drugs; and (3) Drugs with reproductive effects.
Which action is recommended to reduce the risk of exposure when administering hazardous medication?Follow these best practices for safety: Donning two pairs of gloves tested against chemotherapy agents during all handling activities. Wearing a disposable gown made from a low permeable fabric with back closure. Using eye and face protection when splashing may be a risk.
Article first time published onWhat drugs are on the niosh list?
- Arsenic trioxide.
- Etoposide.
- Bortezomib.
- Fluorouracil (5-FU)
- Carboplatin.
- Gemcitabine.
- Cisplatin.
- Irinotecan.
Who updates the niosh list?
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-165, (September 2004). Provides an annually updated list of drugs considered hazardous.
How do you handle hazardous drugs?
- If you are taking a hazardous medicine and it spills, wear a disposable gown and two pairs of gloves to clean up the spill. …
- Hazardous liquid medicines spilled on your skin may cause irritation.
Which PPE is required when administering cytotoxic drugs?
Respiratory protective equipment with a P2 (N95) particulate filter is to be used by all staff when handling chemotherapy agents or body substances contaminated with chemotherapy agents. Surgical masks do not provide sufficient protection from aerosols fumes that are generated during surgical procedures (1).
What is a non antineoplastic drug?
Examples of non- antineoplastic HDs are mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus, conjugated estrogens, and ganciclovir (NIOSH, 2016). •• Group 3: Drugs that primarily pose a reproductive risk to men and women.
Is antineoplastic hazardous?
Overview. Antineoplastic drugs, also known as chemotherapy, cytotoxic and oncology drugs, are used to treat cancer, as well as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and other non-cancer medical conditions. Most antineoplastic drugs are classified by NIOSH as hazardous drugs.
Where would you find warnings and special handling for hazardous drugs CVS?
Where would you find warnings and special handling for Hazardous Drugs? On the manufacture’s Safety Data Sheet.
What are four potential hazards?
Potential Hazards Potential injuries include skin and eye burns, respiratory problems, allergic reactions, skin, eye, and mucous membrane irritation, and illnesses. Pathogens – found in human, animal and plant tissue can cause infections and acute or chronic illnesses.
What is exposure in risk assessment?
Exposure assessment is one of the four major steps in risk assessment. … Exposure assessment is “the process of estimating or measuring the magnitude, frequency, and duration of exposure to an agent, along with the number and characteristics of the population exposed.
What are implications of exposure to hazardous substance?
Exposure to chemicals commonly used in workplaces can lead to a variety of short- and long-term health effects such as poisoning, skin rashes and disorders of the lung, kidney and liver.
Is multaq a hazardous drug?
[12-19-2011] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has completed a safety review of the heart drug Multaq (dronedarone). This review showed that Multaq increased the risk of serious cardiovascular events, including death, when used by patients in permanent atrial fibrillation (AF).
Is warfarin a hazardous drug?
* Warfarin is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, DEP, IRIS and EPA. * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance List because it is a TERATOGEN.
Is tocilizumab hazardous?
Inhalation: May be harmful if inhaled. May cause respiratory tract irritation. Skin: May be harmful if absorbed through skin. May cause skin irritation.
Why is tacrolimus hazardous?
Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure. Symptoms/Injuries After Inhalation: Exposure to capsule contents: May cause respiratory irritation. Symptoms/Injuries After Skin Contact: Exposure to capsule contents: May cause skin irritation.
How is Durvalumab administered?
Administer infusion solution intravenously over 60 minutes through an intravenous line containing a sterile, low-protein binding 0.2 or 0.22 micron in-line filter. Do not co-administer other drugs through the same infusion line.
Why is Aldactone a hazardous drug?
Material may be irritating to the mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract. May cause eye, skin, or respiratory system irritation. Suspected of causing cancer.
When would a patient be taken off hazardous drug precautions?
Call your doctor if you have: Any unexpected or severe side effects such as a rash, bleeding, or a fever of 101° F or 38.3° C or higher. Your skin stays red for more than 1 hour after a spill is washed off.
What information is useful for completion of the hazardous drug exposure report?
American Society of Hospital Pharmacists (ASHP) (1990)National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (2004)GenotoxicityGenotoxicityCarcinogenicityCarcinogenicityTeratogenicity or fertility impairmentTeratogenicity/Developmental toxicity
What PPE is required for IV low risk hazardous medications?
- Gloves. When chemotherapy gloves are required, they must meet American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard D6978 (or its successor). …
- Gowns. …
- Head, hair, shoe covers. …
- Eye and face protection. …
- Respiratory protection.
Is bevacizumab on the NIOSH list?
These included the biologics trastuzumab and bevacizumab, widely used in cancer treatment. Thankfully, when extending the deadline for comments, NIOSH indicated that trastuzumab and bevacizumab were no longer being considered for inclusion.
Why is Ziprasidone a hazardous drug?
Statement of Hazard: May cause allergic skin reaction. May cause damage to liver through prolonged or repeated exposure.