Using Fume Hood to Reduce Nurses' Exposure to Particulate Matters Dispersed Into the Air During Pill Crushing.

IF 2.3 4区医学 Q1 NURSING

Workplace Health & Safety Pub Date : 2023-09-01 DOI:10.1177/21650799231184756

Azita Amiri, LeAnn Guess, Richard Gilder, Darlene Showalter, Laura Hart, Barbara Sattler

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Pill crushing is a common practice in patient care settings. Crushing pills can disperse particulate matter (PM) into indoor air. The PM is a widespread air pollutant composed of microscopic particles and droplets of various sizes and may carry active and/or inactive ingredients nurses can inhale. This study aimed to quantify PM sizes and concentration in indoor air when pills are crushed and examine the role of a fume hood in reducing particulate pollution.

Methods: Two scenarios (with and without a fume hood) representing nurses' pill-crushing behaviors were set up in a positive-pressure cleanroom. Two acetaminophen tablets (325 mg/tablet) were crushed into powder and mixed with unsweetened applesauce. The PM sizes and concentrations were measured before and during crushing.

Results: Different sizes of PM, including inhalable, respirable, and thoracic particles, were emitted during medication crushing. The total count of all particle sizes and mass concentrations of particles were significantly lower during crushing when a fume hood was used (p = .00).

Conclusion: Pill crushing increases PM and should be considered a workplace safety health hazard for nurses. Healthcare professionals should work under a fume hood when crushing pills and wear proper protective equipment. The findings of significant particulate pollution related to pill crushing suggest that further research is warranted.

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使用通风柜减少护士在粉碎药丸过程中接触分散到空气中的颗粒物。

背景:碾压药丸是一种常见的做法，在病人护理设置。粉碎药片会将颗粒物(PM)分散到室内空气中。PM是一种广泛存在的空气污染物，由各种大小的微观颗粒和液滴组成，可能携带护士可以吸入的活性和/或非活性成分。本研究旨在量化粉碎药片时室内空气中的PM大小和浓度，并检查通风柜在减少颗粒污染方面的作用。方法:在正压洁净室设置有通风柜和无通风柜两种情景，分别代表护士的压药行为。将两片对乙酰氨基酚片(325毫克/片)碾碎成粉末，与不加糖的苹果酱混合。在破碎前和破碎过程中测量了PM的大小和浓度。结果:在药物粉碎过程中释放出不同大小的PM，包括可吸入颗粒、可呼吸颗粒和胸椎颗粒。当使用通风柜时，粉碎过程中所有粒径和颗粒质量浓度的总数显着降低(p = .00)。结论:碾压药片增加了PM，应考虑护士的工作场所安全健康危害。医疗保健专业人员在粉碎药片时应在通风柜下工作，并佩戴适当的防护设备。与粉碎药片有关的显著颗粒污染的发现表明，有必要进一步研究。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Workplace Health & Safety NURSING-

CiteScore

3.70

自引率

3.80%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Workplace Health & Safety: Promoting Environments Conducive to Well-Being and Productivity is the official publication of the American Association of Occupational Health Nursing, Inc. (AAOHN). It is a scientific peer-reviewed Journal. Its purpose is to support and promote the practice of occupational and environmental health nurses by providing leading edge research findings and evidence-based clinical practices. It publishes articles that span the range of issues facing occupational and environmental health professionals, including emergency and all-hazard preparedness, health promotion, safety, productivity, environmental health, case management, workers'' compensation, business and leadership, compliance and information management.