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NEWS & INFORMATION
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Risk Management Programs
THE ISSUES:
- Safe handling of chemotherapy drugs is a top priority for all healthcare professionals
who prepare, administer and/or clean-up chemotherapy drugs.
- The current Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the American Society
for Health-System Pharmacists guidelines recommend using powder-free latex gloves.1,2
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For the latex-sensitive individual, safe handling of chemotherapy drugs must be
considered.
THE SOLUTION:
- Ansell
addresses all the issues by offering extra protection latex and nitrile examination
gloves - all are powder-free, all are choices for handling chemotherapy drugs.
These permeation data are based on an independent study which tested non-latex materials
and one natural rubber latex material against the listed chemotherapy drugs (PVC
is not recommended based on results from a previous study.3).
These results are intended to guide and inform healthcare personnel, safety specialists
and other qualified professionals involved in handling chemotherapy drugs in the
healthcare environment under normal working conditions. Ansell
believes this information is the best currently available; it is subject to revision
as additional knowledge and experience is gained. Test data herein reflects laboratory
performance of partial gloves and not necessarily the complete unit. Gloves used
for protection against chemical exposure must be selected specifically for the type
of chemicals used. Review material safety data sheets for the chemicals being used
to determine the required level of protection.
Upon request Ansell will be pleased to provide a sample
of product to you for your own evaluation.
- Office of Occupational Medicine. Guidelines for Handling CDs. Occupational
Safety and Health Act Instruction [PUB 8-1.1, Jan. 29, 1986].
- American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. ASHP technical assistance bulletin
on handling cytotoxic and hazardous drugs. Am J Hosp Pharm 1990; 47: 1033-49.
- Laidlaw JL., Conner TH, Theiss JC, Anderson RW, Matncy TS. Permeability of latex
and polyvinyl chloride gloves to 20 antineoplastic drugs.Am
J Hosp Pharm 1984; 41:2618-23.
Chemotherapy drugs represent a significant
health risk to healthcare personnel. Such drugs have been found to be carcinogenic,
to cause chromosomal damage and may also cause damage to normal skin and necrosis
of compromised skin. The most common exposures are the result of inadvertent ingestion
of a drug on food, inhalation of drug dusts or droplets or direct skin contact.
Proper training and the use of personal protective equipment such as suitable gloves
are critical to ensure the safety of healthcare workers who handle chemotherapy
drugs.
GLOVE TIPS
- Use natural rubber latex gloves when handling chemotherapy drugs.
- The Oncology Nursing Society states in their Cancer Chemotherapy Guidelines and
Recommendations for Practice that, "People with known or suspected latex sensitivity
or allergy should use gloves made from an alternate material such as nitrile."
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gloves are not recommended for handling chemotherapy drugs.
- Always use powder-free gloves. Glove powders contaminated with chemotherapy drugs
can become airborne and may be subsequently inhaled. Also, powder residue will attach
to supplies, work surfaces and the skin.
- If double-gloving, insert first glove under the cuff and place the second glove
over the cuff. If single-gloving, place the clean glove over the cuff' of the gown.
- Use extra-thick gloves, or better yet, use double gloves.
- Before handling chemotherapy drugs, always inspect gloves for holes, tears or any
type of defect. Unless the film is intact, it cannot provide a barrier.
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Although surgical gloves are recommended for preparation, administration, cleanup
and general handling, sterility is not always required especially with cleanup and
housekeeping procedures. Surgical gloves are available in non-sterile presentations
for these purposes.
DRUG PREPARATION
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gloves are not recommended for handling chemotherapy drugs.
- Never use powdered gloves during drug preparation.
- Use double gloving unless it interferes with the drug preparation technique. A double
layer of gloves is substantially less permeable to chemotherapy drugs.
- Change all gloves regularly (hourly) or immediately if they are torn or punctured.
- Do not wear gloves outside the preparation area.
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Dispose of used gloves according to proper hospital toxic waste procedures.
DRUG ADMINISTRATION
- Wear high quality gloves that have demonstrated safe use when handling chemotherapy
drugs. Double-gloving is recommended.
- Wash hands before putting on gloves.
- Change contaminated gloves immediately.
- Wash hands after removing gloves.
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Dispose of gloves according to proper hospital toxic waste procedures.
DRUG CLEAN UP and GENERAL HANDLING
- Wear high quality gloves that have demonstrated safe use for handling chemotherapy
drugs when dealing with blood, vomitus, excreta and other bodily fluids from chemotherapy
drug patients.
- Discard gloves after each use.
- Laundry personnel coming into contact with linen contaminated with chemotherapy
drug patients' body fluids should wear high quality gloves that have demonstrated
safe use for handling chemotherapy drugs.
- Housekeeping personnel should wear high quality gloves that have demonstrated safe
use for handling chemotherapy drugs when handling waste containers.
- Spills should only be cleaned up by personnel wearing a double layer of gloves.
- Spill kits for use in responding to spills should include two (2) pair of gloves;
one outer pair of utility gloves and one inner pair of latex or synthetic gloves.
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All personnel involved in any aspect of handling chemotherapy drugs must receive
an orientation on chemotherapy drugs including proper use of protective equipment.
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