Handling Parenteral Drugs Used in Chemotherapy for Children

Abstract

At first, remember that your health and of the pharmacy staff are the most important thing; and health, including safety, must be the first thing to think in daily practice. There is not how to work in a place that does not provide the essential materials for your safety. For optimal protection in the chemotherapy handling, it is essential to establish general guidelines for evaluating of materials and to define quality standards, so the appropriate sector that buys the material will not buy the wrong ones, as well the safety of the professionals will be guaranteed. In the United States, material to handle chemotherapy, such as medical gloves for this use, has to fulfill requirements according to the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) International standard, such as D 6978-05 in case of gloves. Consult your legislation, and if it does not guarantee your safety, research about the ideal materials, and see the ASTM International publications. At first, read this chapter, and then start a complete search for the right materials for you and your team that adjusts to the necessity and reality of the institution where you work. You can start this search reading the legislation of your country, then reading the “Workplace Solution” from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which is referenced as 128 in this book, and finally searching in the site of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the US Department of Labor, which is referenced as 129 in this book [82–84].