Occupational Exposure in Health Care Personnel to Antineoplastic Drugs and Initiation of Safe Handling in Hong Kong A Literature Review

Despite the benefits for patients as cancer treatment, antineoplastic drugs may cause adverse effects not only in patients but also in health care personnel. Apart from minor symptoms, antineoplastic agents can cause serious health problems. However, protection from occupational exposures to antineoplastic drugs varies between pharmacy staff and nurses. While protection used for pharmacy staff are more advanced, personal protective equipment seems to be the only protection for most nurses around the world. Exposure can never be totally prevented, but it should be minimized at all costs. Guidelines and recommendations have been published; however, these guidelines do not have legal enforcement power. This article aims to provide a literature review on the occupational exposure of health care personnel to antineoplastic drugs and to reflect the current status in Hong Kong.