Update: exposure to aerosol pentamidine.
Pentamidine, a drug administered in aerosol form to AIDS patients suffering from Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), has come under heavy fire from hospital unions and others of late. Pentamidine presents a twofold occupational risk: first, there is exposure to the drug itself, which, according to many healthcare workers, is a respiratory irritant with potential long-term consequences; second, there appears to be some evidence that working in pentamidine therapy areas increases the potential of exposure to respiratory pathogens, especially tuberculosis (TB).
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000336:Aerosols / Q000592:standards; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008404:Massachusetts; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011010:Pneumocystis; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission; D014481:United States