Guidelines for safe handling of cytotoxic drugs in pharmacy departments and hospital wards.

The Specialty Practice Committee on Parenteral Services is one of a number of subcommittees of the Federal Council of The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) having responsibility for development of professional practice in particular areas, such as drug distribution, drug information, clinical pharmacy, radiopharmaceuticals, and a number of others. Parenteral Services has been, perhaps, the major area of growth in Australian hospital pharmacy over the last three years. The pattern of growth of Australia has deviated somewhat from that which has emerged in the United States. Whereas the typical I.V. admixture service is relatively uncommon in Australian hospitals, the emphasis is towards specialization into Parenteral Nutrition and Oncology Support Services. Developments in Oncology Support have been particularly rapid, with many pharmacists becoming exclusively involved in this specialty. Concern is felt that operators intensively reconstituting and preparing cytotoxic drugs may be at risk from a variety of factors. Australian hospital pharmacists share the growing international opinion that this work is potentially hazardous and that safety guidelines governing every aspect of handling these substances are urgently required. The Specialty Practice Committee on Parenteral Services has conducted a study of safety aspects of this work as its major project for 1980 and has produced the document presented below. This is an official statement of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia.