Limited Health Risks in Performing Drug Reconstitution and Handling Tasks in Pharmacies-Results of an Occupational Risk Assessment Study.
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Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 36728178.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002781 and PMC identifier 10090273.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Some drugs need processing before they can be administered or dispensed. We measured airborne exposure of pharmacy staff to small particles when performing these tasks. Reconstitution of powdered drugs in vials; crushing, splitting, and counting of tablets; and opening of capsules, using different ventilation strategies, were investigated in five pharmacies after in a worst-case approach. Airborne particulate matter was determined for a range of particles sizes. Mean particle concentrations ranged from not detectable to 1.03 μg/m 3 (<1 μm) and 589.7 μg/m 3 (<10 μm). Dust exhaust made tasks safer. Most hazardous was pouring out tablets from a bulk supply, and least hazardous was reconstitution of a powder for injection. Occupational exposure during routine handling of drugs can occur, but the risks vary greatly with the nature and duration of the tasks.
Medical subject headings
- Pharmacies
- Occupational Exposure