5PSQ-102 Hazardous drug colour marks the difference

• Published in: European journal of hospital pharmacy. Science and practice 2018-03, Vol.25 (Suppl 1), p.A211-A213
• Main Authors: Machín, A Ferrer, Gil, JA Leon, Cabrera, M Vera, Santana, E Ramos, Dávila, MA Navarro, Rojas, S Hernández, Delgado, A Montero, García, I Plasencia, Romero, K Viñas, Clemente, C Fraile, Alonso, FJ Merino
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Drug dosages; Medical personnel; Pharmaceuticals; Section 5: Patient safety and quality assurance
• ISSN: 2047-9956; 2047-9964
• DOI: 10.1136/ejhpharm-2018-eahpconf.455

BackgroundHazardous drugs (MPs) are defined as the drugs that cause carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, reproductive toxicity, low-dose organ toxicity, genotoxicity, and new drugs with structure profiles and toxicity similar to existing drugs that were determined to be hazardous according to the above criteria. Because of their toxicity profile, preventive measures should be taken for their preparation and administration.PurposeDesign a colour code to standardise the measures that health professionals must adopt in the elaboration and administration of MPs.Material and methodsThe drugs included in the NIOSH list were analysed and it was established that a colour code should be introduced according to precautions to be taken during handling (preparation and administration).ResultsMPs were classified into four groups based on two criteria: pharmaceutical form and group to which it belongs in the NIOSH list. These four groups were selected in terms of specific manipulation tasks and the protective clothing (gloves, gown, goggles, mask) for each type of activity (preparation and administration). Green was assigned to oral dosage forms; pink to drugs that belong to group 3 of the NIOSH list, in other words, drugs that present a risk to the reproductive process and which can also affect males and females who are trying to have children, and pregnant or lactating females, but do not present a risk to other staff (regardless of the pharmaceutical form); blue to liquid dosage forms, topical sterile and topical non-sterile dosage forms; and red to parenteral dosage forms. In accordance with this classification, the measures that health professionals should adopt in the elaboration and administration of MPs were defined.ConclusionAs a result of the potencial toxicity of the handling of MPs for health personnel, preventive measures should be established. For this, it is necessary to simplify the identification and management of MPs included in the Hospitals’ Pharmacotherapeutic Guide.The classification based on the pharmaceutical form and group of the NIOSH list supposes a novelty . This classification tries to establish a regulation to standardise a colour code in hospitals.References and/or AcknowledgementsMedicamentos Peligrosos. Medidas de prevención para su preparación y administración.Safe–procedure development manage hazardous–drugs in the workplace.List of Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous–Drugs in Healthcare–Settings.No conflict of interest