Employees’ line of defense against exposure to hazardous drugs is Personal protective equipment (PPE).
USP <800> focuses on regulations for handling hazardous drugs in compounding pharmacies, medical centers and other environments. Anyone handling the drugs must wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE), including these eight items:
Anyone working in a hazardous drug compounding environment should know the types of footwear that are acceptable. For example, they should avoid high heels, which can tear shoe covers. Shoe covers that are made from polyethylene-coated polypropylene or another laminate material and are disposable, skid-resistant and water-resistant should be used. Provista offers covers from Novaplus®, Tronex, Welmed and other trusted brands.
Coveralls, also known as “bunny suits,” offer head-to-toe protection when handling hazardous drugs. Some of the more popular features of these coverings include integrated shoe covers, thumb loops and a hood. The coveralls should be easy to put on and take off. The suits help minimize cross-contamination to adjacent rooms and other staff. Provista offers hazardous drug-resistant coveralls from Carter-Health.
Facial protection is required when handling hazardous drugs. Because many of these drugs can irritate the eyes and mucous membranes, a mask is essential. Employees should wear a face mask that’s disposable and cleanroom grade. In some instances, a face shield can also be used to offer full facial protection. Provista carries masks from Acute Care Pharmaceuticals, Carter-Health and ISO-MED.
These gloves must be disposable, latex free and powder free because powder can absorb hazardous materials. Gloves can be sterile or non-sterile to meet users’ preference. It’s important to remember that double gloving is required for hazardous drug compounding and administration. The gloves must be changed every 30 minutes, or immediately if they’re damaged. Provista contracts gloves for handling hazardous drugs from Novaplus, Medline and Kimberly-Clark.
Eye protection is needed along with a face mask to ensure full facial protection to guard against the risk of spills or splashes of hazardous drugs or hazardous drug waste materials. Eyeglasses alone or safety glasses without side shields are not adequate protection. Provista offers goggles from several companies, including Kimberly-Clark, Cardinal, Carter-Health and ISO-MED.
Long-sleeved seamless gowns must be disposable with tight-fitting elastic or knit-closed cuffs so the cuffs are not loose. The gowns must close in the back rather than the front. In addition, gowns worn in hazardous areas must not be worn in other areas. They should be changed immediately after a spill, or every two or three hours. Provista offers gowns made from Tronex, O&M Halyard and others.
There’s gear for every part of the body that could come into contact with the drugs or residue. To that end, protection is available to cover the hair on the head and on the face. These covers can be placed over a beard, mustache and hair on top of the head. The covers are disposable and low-lint. Proper head protection fits over the ears and covers the forehead. Provista offers these covers from companies such as Novaplus, Daxwell and others.
Anyone unpacking hazardous drugs that are not in plastic containers should wear a respirator for protection in case of spills or breaks during shipping. Surgical masks do not offer adequate respiratory protection from drug exposure, so a respirator is needed. Provista offers respirators from Grainger, including N95, half, full and powered air purifying respirators.
Some PPE items have been in high demand since the COVID-19 pandemic started, mostly notably face masks. Pharmacists, healthcare providers and others can stay ahead of the demand curve by working with their group purchasing organization to procure items both when they’re needed and at competitive prices.
“Some PPE items have been in high demand since the COVID-19 pandemic started, mostly notably face masks.”
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