‘“Each year, approximately 8 million healthcare workers in the US are potentially exposed to hazardous drugs,”’ states Jaap Venema, Ph.D., executive vice-president and chief science officer of USP (1). Exposure to hazardous drugs (HDs) may occur through dispensing, compounding, administration, patient-care, spills, receipt, or during transport. Studies show that exposure to HDs can cause acute and chronic health effects such as skin rashes, adverse reproductive outcomes, and potentially some types of cancer. The proper handling of HDs in the healthcare setting is crucial to healthcare workers and patient safety (1).
Earlier this month the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) published the new general chapter, Hazardous Drugs – Handling in Healthcare Settings. The new standard is designed to improve processes and minimize exposure to hazardous drugs in the healthcare setting. The goal of the standard is to protect healthcare workers as well as patients from the negative effects of hazardous drugs by preventing or limiting exposure through engineering and administrative controls as well as the use of proper equipment. The chapter covers the responsibilities of personnel, facility requirements, environmental quality and control, personnel training, compounding, administration, and more.
The new general chapter, Hazardous Drugs – Handling in Healthcare Settings applies to all entities that play a role in storing, preparing, transporting, or administering HDs. Pharmacies, hospitals, patient treatment clinics, physicians’ practice facilities, veterinarian offices, and other healthcare institutions should pay special attention to implementing the new standard. Individual roles affected include all healthcare personnel working within these entities that handle hazardous drug preparation including but not limited to physicians, nurses, veterinarians, pharmacists, and technicians (1). Entities that handle HDs must incorporate these new standards into their occupational safety plan.
General Chapter was published on February 1, 2016 in the First Supplement to USP 39-NF 34. USP understands that it may take healthcare facilities additional time to implement the new standard.Healthcare facilities have until December 1, 2019 to implement the new chapter giving them more than two years to conform.
For more information about USP Hazardous Drugs – Handling in Healthcare Settings please visit the USP website.
(1) "HAZARDOUS DRUG EXPOSURES IN HEALTH CARE." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 May 2015. Web. 08 Feb. 2016.
