Question

safety precautions with chemotherapeutics. discuss safety precautions you would include when teaching patients about chemotherapeutic drugs.

Week 2 Discussion: Safety Precautions With Chemotherapeutics Discuss safety precautions you would include when teaching patient about chemotherapeutic drugs entries or author l Inread

Answer 1

Chemotherapeutic drugs are the drugs which are used for treating cancer . They are also known as anticancer drugs .

# Classes of anti-cancer drugs

cytotoxic drugs

hormones

biologic response modifiers (BRMS)

Targeted agents

1. Cytotoxic drugs are

-"chemotherapy"-kills cells- goal is to kill 100% of cancer cells while causing the least amount of damage to normal tissues

2. Hormones make itl lessconducive for the cell to grow

3. Targeted agents

provide selective approach to only affect cancer cells, not healthy cells

4. BRMS

alters how host responds to cancer cells

# Safety precautions with chemotherapeutics are :-

We should be concerned about chemotherapy drugs because it  is mutagenic, carcinogenic and teratogenic

8 ways chemotherapy causes fetal injury

-DNA damage

-Infertility

-Miscarriage

-Premature birth

-Congenital problems

-Low birth weight

-Learning disabilities

-Limb abnormalities

# Severity and type of toxicity is related to:

-Type of drug

-Frequency of exposure

-Amount exposed to

# Safety precautions :-

1. Who should NOT handle chemo:-

-pregnant

-nursing

-actively trying to conceive

-children

2. Tablets and Capsules for chemo: Do NOTS

-Do not open capsules!

Aerosolization

Inaccurate dosing

-Do not break tablets!

Cyclophosphamide is not evenly distributed in tablet

3. Where should chemo drug preparation be conducted

-Quiet, low-traffic area

-Easily cleaned: appropriate cleaning protocol

-Well-ventilated, not drafty

-Biosafety cabinet

(No eating or gum, drinking, smoking, cosmetic application)

- 2 closed system transfer devices for parenteral chemo

-PhaSeal

-Equashield

# Personal protective equipments to be followed during preparation of chemotherapy drug :-

- A drug preparation gown

- Disposable surgical gloves (double if appropriate)

- A surgical mask (minimal protection against CD aerosols)

- Inform patients about PPE for workers

# Care for patients receiving chemotherapy drugs :-

- Wear surgical disposable gloves and disposable gowns when dealing with blood, vomitus, stool, or urine

- Linens contaminated with CD, blood, vomitus, stool, or urine should be placed in specifically marked laundry bag

- When disposing urine or stool to toilet, cover the bowel with chux (plastic side up).

# Waste disposal of chemotherapy drugs :-

- CD waste disposal yellow bag labeled with a cytotoxic hazard label should be used for discarded gloves, gowns, goggles, or other disposable (all CD-related) material

- Needles and breakable items contaminated with CD should be disposed into CD containers