title: Handling of cytotoxic drugs by healthcare workers. A review of the risks of exposure.
abstract: Increasing utilisation of chemotherapeutic agents in treating patients with malignancy has led to the potential for widespread exposure of healthcare workers who come into contact with patients or these agents in the work place. Unfortunately, these drugs are toxic to both the abnormal and normal somatic cell. This occurs in the patient, and is also likely to affect any individual exposed. There appear to be widely divergent opinions concerning the extent of hazard of coming into contact with these agents, in spite of which caution and minimising exposure risk seems only prudent and appropriate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Jochimsen
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006281:Health Occupations; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents