Search

This document provides guidance on the handling of cytotoxic chemotherapy and its focus is on traditional small molecule chemotherapy although there are references to biological therapies including monoclonal antibodies which are being used in increasing numbers” NHS Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance Committee (2018).

Extract:

This document provides guidance on the handling of cytotoxic chemotherapy and its focus is on traditional small molecule chemotherapy although there are references to biological therapies including monoclonal antibodies which are being used in increasing numbers. Many cytotoxic drugs are known to be mutagenic, carcinogenic and teratogenic due to their activity at the cellular level with the potential to cause damage to genetic material which can be an important part of their activity. Staff exposure to these agents therefore carries a degree of risk, as with other mutagenic, carcinogenic substances therefore exposures should be kept to a minimum. The principles described below apply to all environments and all staff handling cytotoxic drug but the document and its recommendations are aimed primarily at nursing staff handling these agents in clinical areas.

You may also be interested in…

[rp4wp]



Reference:
Santillo, M., Field, A., Henderson, J., Hogan, A., Thoms, E., Manomano, N., Renn, S., Simons, A. and Roland, S. (2018) (Edition 1) Guidance on Handling Cytotoxics in Clinical Areas. July. Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance Committee.