New findings from a European Biosafety Network (EBN) study on occupational exposure to hazardous medicinal products have been featured in Bibliomed Pflege, one of Germany’s leading nursing publications: https://www.bibliomed-pflege.de/news/studie-zeigt-massive-luecken-beim-gefahrstoffschutz
The article reports on a national survey conducted by EBN in partnership with the Conference of Oncology Nursing and Paediatric Nursing (KOK), highlighting serious gaps in the protection of oncology nurses. According to the study, a large majority of respondents experience regular exposure to chemotherapy drugs, with frequent reports of leaks, unsafe handling practices and limited use of closed-system transfer devices.
Despite EU requirements mandating closed systems, implementation remains inconsistent. The publication also underscores significant shortcomings in training, monitoring and awareness of safety protocols across healthcare settings.
Hazardous medicinal products, including many cytotoxic drugs, are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic, yet exposure during routine care continues to be widely reported.
The coverage reflects growing recognition within the nursing community of the gap between regulatory standards and real-world practice. EBN continues to call for stronger enforcement, mandatory training and the full adoption of closed systems to better protect healthcare workers across Europe.
