Baxa Praises NIOSH for Alert on Preventing Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Drugs

Baxa Praises NIOSH for Alert on Preventing Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Drugs

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has issued an important Alert identifying the risks to healthcare workers involved in handling antineoplastic and other hazardous drugs. Baxa is a proponent of closed system technology (CST) that prevents the workplace contamination threats delineated in the Alert.

Englewood, CO (PRWEB) March 29, 2004

"The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has issued an important Alert identifying the risks to healthcare workers involved in handling antineoplastic and other hazardous drugs," Greg Baldwin, Chairman and CEO of Baxa Corporation, says. Baxa is a proponent of closed system technology (CST) that prevents the workplace contamination threats delineated in the Alert.

Commending NIOSH on their publication, Baldwin notes that it developed from solid scientific evidence through the review of more than 140 references to environmental and occupational exposure among healthcare workers. The Alert includes recommendations for employers and workers of appropriate measures to protect the health and reduce the exposure risks.

The Alert, "Preventing Occupational Exposures to Antineoplastic and other Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare Settings," reflects years of work by physician, nurse, pharmacist and scientific experts in collaboration with members of the broad-based NIOSH Hazardous Drug Safe Handling working group. The complete 93-page Alert is now available on the NIOSH Web site at http://www. cdc. gov/niosh/docs/2004-HazDrugAlert/ (http://www. cdc. gov/niosh/docs/2004-HazDrugAlert/).

Among the findings in the Alert are warnings that previous workplace precautions for containing hazardous drugs have been inadequate. Examples include:

"Sessink and Bos noted that 11 of 12 studies detected cyclophosphamide in the urine of healthcare workers tested, indicating continued exposure despite safety precautions." (page 17)

"Considering all the data, the weight of the evidence in occupationally exposed cohorts demonstrates an association between exposures to hazardous drugs and increases in various measures of genotoxicity..." (page 19)

"Recent evidence summarized in this Alert documents that worker exposure to hazardous drugs is a persistent problem. Although most air sampling studies have not demonstrated significant airborne concentrations of these drugs, the methodology employed in the past has come into question...and may not be a good indicator of environmental contamination of the workplace. All studies that examined surface wipe samples have determined that surface contamination of the workplace is common and widespread." (page 41)

The Alert recommends that employers improve environmental and employee protection where hazardous drugs are handled. The specific benefits of closed systems were called out:

"An investigation conducted in the U. S. demonstrated a reduction in both the percentage of urine samples with measurable levels of cyclophosphamide or ifosfamide present and the concentration of the drugs in the urine following use of a closed-system device for six months..." (page 18)

"Transfers from primary packaging such as vials to dosing equipment (i. e. infusion bags, bottles or pumps) should be carried out using closed systems whenever possible. Devices that contain the product within a closed system during drug transfers limit the potential for aerosol generation, as well as exposure to sharps." (page 35)

Click the following link to view a presentation by Jim Jorgenson "Using a Closed System Device to Reduce Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Drugs." Jorgenson is Director of Pharmacy for the Huntsman Cancer Institute and Associate Dean for Professional Affairs at the University of Utah:

Http://www. isips. org/presentations/PhaSeal/player. html (http://www. isips. org/presentations/PhaSeal/player. html)

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"NIOSH Alert: Preventing Occupational Exposures to Antineoplastic and other Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare Settings," pre-publication document is available at http://www. cdc. gov/niosh/docs/2004-HazDrugAlert/ (http://www. cdc. gov/niosh/docs/2004-HazDrugAlert/). Printed copies will be available at a later date from NIOSH at 800.356.4674.

About Baxa Corporation:

As a leading provider of devices and systems for the preparation, handling, packaging, and administration of liquid medications, Baxa manufactures and markets a wide range of healthcare products for use in hospitals, critical care units and alternate-site pharmacies. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, Baxa has subsidiaries and sales offices in Canada, the United Kingdom; Denmark, and Germany; and distribution partners worldwide. Further information is available at http://www. baxa. com (http://www. baxa. com).

Contacts:

Marian Robinson, Vice President, Marketing

Baxa Corporation: 800.567.2292 ext. 2157 or 303.617.2157

Email: marian. robinson@baxa. com

Maggie Chamberlin Holben, APR, Absolutely Public Relations

303.984.9801, 303.669.3558 Email: maggie@absolutelypr. com