The preparation of Hazardous Drugs involves toxic and potent agents, which may cause immediate and long-term negative health effects when exposed to workers and staffs in healthcare industries. Studies showed a correlation between workers directly or indirectly involved with these drugs and the increased risk of developing skin rashes, reproductive disorders, respiratory problems, as well as the risk of leukemia and other forms of cancer.

The day pharmaceutical companies and healthcare industries came to know about the adverse effects of occupational exposure to hazardous drugs, they have been working on the projects to design a cost effective and easy to use system, which will help healthcare staffs to safely handle hazardous substances. Their design prospects mainly included no drip-tip technology for the leak free transfer of these drugs and reduced surface contamination. They also intended to design a passive safety system, which automatically encloses upon disconnection and prevent free flow of drugs. An automatic safety lock to be incorporated to ensure safety against accidental discharges.

A closed system drug transfer device is one such protective device that mechanically transfers the environmental contaminants and sterile products into a closed system and prevents escape of aerosols, vapor concentrations and drugs from vials outside the system. It has benefit over the use of biological safety cabinet, as it is both airtight and leak proof. These devices when accessed in proper way will result in protection against exposure to hazardous agents.

Safe handling of these drugs involves protection of healthcare workers throughout the processes of drug preparation, administration and disposal. Personal protective equipments such as lab courts, gloves, masks, etc. does not ensure adequate protection against workers handling such medications. Therefore, healthcare organizations have issued safety guidelines to healthcare workers and recommend the practice of closed drug transfer devices in all such processes. Research has shown that while compounding hazardous drugs in conjunction with a closed-system drug transfer device, a significant reduction in drug contaminants in the nearby environment has resulted out.



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