Work Practices and Policies of Hospital Pharmacists Preparing Antineoplastic Agents

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Abstract
Hospital-based female pharmacists were asked about work-place practices and conditions, use of protective equipment, and formal hospital guidelines governing exposure to antineoplastic agents. Special preparation areas edicated to antineoplastic agents were absent in 13.4% of the workplaces. Vertical laminar flow hoods were unavailable for 27.7% of the respondents. Although protective gloves were worn by the majority (87.9%), safety glasses and facial masks were used infrequently. More than 40% of the group reported skin contact with cytotoxic drugs at least once a month. Eighty-three percent of all respondents reported that their institution had a formal policy governing the handling of antineoplastic agents. Medical surveillance for exposed employees, however, was available in only 28% of the workplaces.