What is a key function of a closed-system drug-transfer device (CSTD)?

A closed-system drug-transfer device (CSTD) is designed primarily to prevent the transfer of environmental contaminants into the system and to contain the hazardous drug within it, thereby protecting healthcare workers and the environment from exposure. This function is critical in maintaining sterility and preventing the potential hazards associated with handling and preparing medications, particularly those that can be toxic or harmful.

The technology employed in CSTDs helps to minimize leakage and evaporation of hazardous drugs, ensuring that when these substances are being prepared, transferred, or infused, there is no risk of them escaping into the surroundings. This protective feature is vital for safeguarding staff, patients, and the general environment from exposure to potentially harmful substances.

In contrast, allowing full access to environmental air would undermine the very purpose of a CSTD, exposing the drug to contamination. Enhancing vapor release into the atmosphere is directly contrary to the design intent of CSTDs, which aims to contain such vapors. Likewise, while it is important to handle hazardous drugs carefully, a CSTD does not facilitate manual handling; rather, it provides a controlled environment to do so while minimizing risk. Thus, the prohibition of environmental contaminants' transfer is the key function that underscores the importance of CSTDs in healthcare settings.