What is the purpose of maintaining negative pressure in containment areas used for hazardous drug handling?

• A. To improve staff morale
• B. To prevent airborne contaminants from escaping to adjacent spaces
• C. To reduce noise
• D. To reduce humidity

Answer: (B)

The main idea is to control airflow so hazardous drug aerosols stay contained. By keeping the containment area at a lower pressure than surrounding spaces, air flows into the room whenever doors or openings exist. That inward flow prevents contaminated air from escaping to hallways or adjacent rooms, reducing exposure risk for staff and nearby areas. The room’s exhaust is typically managed and HEPA-filtered, so the contaminated air is cleaned before it’s released. Continuous pressure monitoring and proper door practices help maintain this protective environment. The other options don’t address containment of airborne contaminants at all, since they relate to morale, noise, or humidity rather than preventing exposure.