Many nurses 'accidentally exposed to chemotherapy'
Tuesday 23rd August 2011
A significant percentage of cancer nurses in the US are accidentally exposed to chemotherapy, new findings show.
In a study published in journal BMJ Quality and Safety, University of Michigan researchers found that 17 per cent of nurses who work in outpatient chemotherapy infusion centres reported that they had been exposed to chemotherapy.
This occurred as the toxic drug made contact with their skin or eyes.
Lead study author Christopher Friese warned that this could be just as dangerous as a 'needle stick' to those in the profession.
"This research shows that paying attention to the workload, the health of an organization, and the quality of working conditions pays off. It's not just about job satisfaction – it's likely to lower the risk of these occupational hazards," he added.
In other nursing news, higher hand hygiene knowledge was seen to cut the risk of infection among healthcare workers in a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
Written by Martin Lambert
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