Preventing occupational exposure to cytotoxic and other hazardous drugs. European policy recommendations
"Cytotoxic drugs (also referred to as cytostatic or antineoplastic drugs) describe a group of medicines designed to destroy cells that grow in a rapid and uncontrolled manner, preventing their replication or growth. Worldwide, these medicines are increasingly being used in a variety of healthca...
| Institution: | ETUI-European Trade Union Institute |
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| Format: | TEXT |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Brussels
2016
European Parliament |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.labourline.org/KENTIKA-803112462139-Preventing-occupational-exposu.htm |
| Summary: | "Cytotoxic drugs (also referred to as cytostatic or antineoplastic drugs) describe a group of medicines designed to destroy cells that grow in a rapid and uncontrolled manner, preventing their replication or growth. Worldwide, these medicines are increasingly being used in a variety of healthcare settings, prominently in the treatment of cancer. They also play an important role in haematology and rheumatology and are used to treat non-cancerous diseases such as multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and systemic lupus erythematosus, leading to a growing use of these drugs.
The cytotoxic drugs available for current use are generally non-selective, meaning that they do not differentiate between malignant cells and normal healthy tissue and are therefore likely to damage normal (non-tumour) cells, resulting in adverse health effects.
Sold in powder or as a concentrated solution, a form where a drug is more stable, cytotoxic drugs require individual manipulation for each patient prior to being administered as infusions or bolus injections. This may lead to errors, spillages, needle stick injuries and (spread of) contamination, which pose clear health risks to healthcare workers. Moreover, cytotoxic drugs may evaporate and form a gas during normal handling which may result in inhalation of the drugs. ..." |
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| Physical Description: | 27 p. Digital |