| Closed system transfer devices are devices used to | | | | the patients. These chemicals from the contaminated |
| ensure a safe, enclosed transmission of medicines and | | | | areas then enter the body of the nurses, doctors and |
| chemical compounds. The device prevents the entry | | | | other medical staff and create health problems for |
| of any kind of agents from the external environment | | | | them. The impact could be short to long term. Closed |
| into the system. The device also does not allow any | | | | system transfer devices were devised as a result of |
| particles, aerosols or liquids to escape out of the | | | | the in-depth research and analysis of the various |
| system. Thus these closed system transfer devices | | | | routes of exposure to hazardous drugs. These |
| play a pivotal role in contamination-free transportation | | | | devices check hazardous chemical exposure. |
| of chemical agents for medical and other applications. | | | | In a typical Chemotherapy setting, the cytotoxic and |
| They facilitate the reduction of health hazards by | | | | antineoplastic agents need to be transferred from a |
| acting as a check on occupational exposure to | | | | vial to a syringe. The medication is later injected from |
| hazardous drugs. | | | | the syringe into the infusion bag. In the process, there is |
| Many medications that are administered for treating | | | | a chance that, due to the pressure disparity during the |
| diseases like cancer are prepared using chemical | | | | medicine movement, vapors, chemical aerosols and |
| substances that are toxic in nature. These toxic | | | | droplets can be splashed out of the system into the |
| agents can create an adverse health impact on the | | | | work environment. Closed system transfer devices |
| hospital staff who attends the patients. In normal | | | | constantly maintain equal pressure during the entire |
| conditions, if safety measures are not implemented, | | | | transmitting process, preventing any kind of medicine |
| spills from syringes and accidental leakage | | | | escape. Thus contamination of work surfaces is not |
| contaminate the working surfaces including tables, | | | | allowed and the medical staff is saved from the risk of |
| counter tops, the outer surface of the syringe, chairs | | | | exposure to hazardous drugs. |
| and other areas where the drugs are administered on | | | | |