USP 800: A new standard of safety for US nurses
USP 800: A new standard of safety for US nurses
December 2019
From 1st December this year American nurses handling hazardous drugs whilst treating cancer patients are legally protected by new standards covered by USP 800 guidelines. Included in the guidelines is the recommendation that closed system transfer devices, like Vygon’s Qimono, are used when compounding drugs and for administration when the drug dosage allows. The standards, enforceable by law, apply to all healthcare personnel who might be at risk of exposure to cytotoxic therapies and the standards cover a variety of issues such as spill control, cleaning and training.
To help hospitals and healthcare facilities implement the standards, a toolkit has been developed covering the preparation, storage, transport, administration and disposal of hazardous drugs. The toolkit starts with outlining that chemotherapy drugs are considered to be hazardous because of their carcinogenic, teratogenic or toxic properties and the associated health risks including skin rashes, reproductive issues and an increased risk of cancer. The section on the importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) addresses the type of use, the PPE needed and additional notes to prevent accidental exposure. The toolkit also covers wipe testing, spill management and the safe handling of hazardous drugs in the home.
We hope that you agree the guidelines provide comprehensive recommendations on how to best protect workers handling chemotherapy drugs. If you would like to either receive information regarding Qimono or discuss the possibility of implementing our closed system transfer device into your current practice please do not hesitate to get in contact with us using the form below.