Handling Hazardous Drugs

Implementation Date: 10/2021

Date of Last Review: 6/30/2022

Next Review Due: 6/2024

 

Reviewed by VTH Administrative Team: 9/2021

Reviewed by VTH Board: N/A

 

Reviewed by Legal Counsel: N/A

Reviewed by Biosecurity Subcommittee: 9/20/2021; 6/30/2022

Subject to modification by the VTH Director without approval.

Policy

1. The handling of hazardous drugs (HDs) in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) should be reserved for the employees with training in the handling of them and students under the supervision of these trained employees. The VTH follows USP 800 and NIOSH directives on the handling of HDs.
2. All personnel who handle HDs are responsible for understanding the fundamental practices and precautions, and for continually evaluating procedures to prevent harm to patients, minimize exposure to personnel, and minimize contamination of the work and patient-care environment

Guidelines

1. This policy shall apply to all faculty, staff, and students that work in areas with HDs (e.g. receipt, dispensing, compounding, administration, spills, transport, or handling of HD waste). Exposure may occur during handling or touching of contaminated surfaces.
2. Routes of exposure include dermal and mucosal absorption, inhalation, injection and ingestion

Procedure (if applicable)

1. Each service area that uses a HD shall have an SOP describing the drug(s) being handled, method of delivery (oral, subcutaneous, intralesional, intracavitary etc.), procedure for use, procedure for deactivation and decontamination of spills, and general workplace housekeeping after using a HD. Specific personal protective equipment (PPE) shall be listed.
2. The SOP must be approved by the college Biosecurity and Safety Officer prior to use.
3. A Hazardous Drug Risk Acknowledgment form must be signed by all fourth year DVM students and all employees working on the clinic floor. These forms will be retained for a minimum of 30 years by the VTH/VCM Department Office.

Definitions (if applicable)

Hazardous Drugs – Drugs are classified as hazardous when they possess any one of the following six characteristics:

• Genotoxicity – ability to cause a change or mutation in genetic material
• Carcinogenicity – ability to cause cancer or induce benign tumors
• Teratogenicity – ability to cause defects in fetal development or fetal malformation
• Fertility impairment or reproductive toxicity
• Serious organ toxicity in low doses
• Chemical structure and toxicity profile that mimic existing drugs determined to be hazardous

Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH): The collective clinical services of the Large Animal Clinic, Midwest Equine, the Small Animal Clinic, and the Veterinary Medicine South Clinic.