This week, we will continue our comparison of the

• OSHA document "Controlling Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Drugs"
  
  with
  
  
• USP <800> Hazardous Drugs-Handling in Healthcare Settings.

The tally is now complete for all sections of the OSHA and USP <800> documents related to the use of "should, may, etc." as compared to "must, required, etc." for each separate document. A summary of the data is as follows:

Comments:

1. In many cases, the same item has different requirements. For example, in the OSHA document it says "should" but in the USP <800> document it says "must." There are two different standards for the same topics.
   
   
2. It appears that the USP <800> document was written first, as there are references to it in the OSHA document. It also appears that the federal government OSHA document did not agree with the extremely strict narrative of the USP <800> chapter. OSHA made their document more appropriate for compliance by all different types of facilities handling and administering hazardous drugs and would still protect employees, patients, etc.
   
   
3. It is interesting that throughout the documents, the federal government OSHA requirements are LESS STRINGENT than the USP requirements regarding handling hazardous drugs.
   
   
4. The OSHA requirements are more flexible and can accommodate all different sizes and types of compounding facilities, whereas USP <800> is the "one-size-fits-all" approach, which doesn't work for everyone.
   
   
5. If the federal OSHA requirements are the "law of the land," then it makes one wonder why USP <800> standards are even needed now; they don't appear to be adopted by most state boards of pharmacy.
   
   
6. If the USP <800> standards served as a stimulus for OSHA to develop their federal standards, then the USP chapter may have served its purpose and is no longer needed since the enforceable federal OSHA Hazardous Drugs standards are in effect.

More on this topic will be provided in IJPC (print and digital) in the near future by experienced and knowledgeable author(s).

News

New Ohio Program Accepting Cancer Drug Donations
Unused oral cancer drugs can now be donated to a new repository in Ohio that will distribute them to patients unable to afford the cost of such medications. The State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy and the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute - have announced formation of the repository program at the cancer hospital's outpatient pharmacy in Columbus. This program will accept donations of unneeded cancer medications from patients, pharmacies, hospitals, and nonprofit clinics, and they will then be dispensed to patients at the cancer hospital.
https://apnews.com/828502f369ed6b1f8048d6d73b4f81de

Oral Peanut Immunotherapy for Children with Peanut Allergies Approved
The FDA has approved Palforzia (oral peanut immunotherapy) for peanut allergies in children between the ages of 4 and 17. Although not a cure, it does come with significant risks of triggering the very reactions it is supposed to reduce. However, for families and children who have modified their daily routines to minimize potential exposures - changing how and whether they travel, eat out, socialize, and feel safe in their daily lives - it could offer an important layer of protection and relief. The treatment is a specially prepared peanut powder swallowed daily in tiny amounts that are gradually increased over months. This trains children's and teen's bodies to better tolerate peanut so that an accidental bite is less likely to cause a serious reaction, or even kill in severe cases.
https://ashp.bulletinhealthcare.com/?tokenid=23c9jr13721989c9jr1e5km5yjsj2k3276068l6&dt=20200204&d=2020-02-03&a=S1

Did You Know ...

...that George Washington said the following?

"Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble."

Tip of the Week

Regarding "worry," while at the University, I had a small sign in one of my laboratories that said, "I have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened." (Mark Twain)

The two statements above are great truths to live by. If one does nothing wrong, there is no need to worry and worrying about something that may not happen is a loss of energy and contentment.

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Looking Back

Shiver my timbers,
Said Captain Mack,
We're ten knots out,
But we're turning back!
I forgot my...
     Burma-Shave