The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) revealed that more than 8 million U.S. healthcare workers are exposed to hazardous drugs each year and that more than 12 billion doses of hazardous drugs are handled by U.S. providers each year, with pharmacists and pharmacy technicians at the top of the list.
Community pharmacies have been dispensing hazardous drugs long before the potential for harm (due to low dose, long term exposure) was known. Exposure to a hazardous drug is often inadvertent and unknown to the employee. There is some surprise when presented with the list of hazardous drugs which includes pharmaceuticals that you may handle on a daily basis including; fluconazole, fluoxetine, carbamazepine, warfarin and oral contraceptives. There are more than 400 hazardous drugs and their unique dosage forms.
Occupational exposure to hazardous drugs, or their residue, can be an everyday experience and the true effect of this exposure is unknown for many, and may result in both acute and chronic health issues due to trace exposure to hazardous drugs. Acute toxicity may present as nausea, rashes, hair loss, kidney damage, hearing loss and cardiac toxicity. Long term effects may include cancer, infertility, and other reproductive health issues. Certain populations, including, those that are immunosuppressed, and women and men of childbearing age may therefore be more at risk.
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