To avoid the risks of exposures to hazardous drugs, use of safety systems is highly essential. Closed System Drug Transfer device is one such safety system which enables safe handling of harmful drugs and other toxic chemicals. Various surveys have presented the adverse effects of exposures to hazardous drugs to the workers engaged in different drug related activities. These effects can be of short term as well as long term which include skin and eye infections, allergic reactions, respiratory and reproductive disorders, birth defects, leukemia and cancer. Due to emissions during various drug related activities, the surroundings get contaminated and it badly affects the healthcare workers and other persons available there. Hence contamination of workplaces must be prevented.

Chemotherapy treatment needs cytotoxic and antineoplastic drugs. These hazardous drugs have harmful chemicals that can affect the person handling and monitoring them. Exposure to these perilous dugs can be caused by aerosols, vapors, spills, leaks and needle stick injuries. The conventional equipments used in this process do not offer prevention against the dripping of medications and escape of harmful chemicals. A closed system drug transfer device is very effective in such situations as it is airtight and leak proof. It has a pressure equalization system that does not allow the escape of aerosols and vapors. It is designed to offer complete protection against hazardous drugs.

Some of the closed system uses the concept of dual needle syringe. One needle extracts the medicine into the syringe unit from the vial and another needle provides the sterile air to the vial. This enables pressure equalization in both syringe unit and vial therefore the needles are not exposed to environmental disinfectants. Correct dose of medications can be drawn out using this system with no spillage. Hence closed systems are very helpful in minimizing the risks of exposures to harmful drugs.

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