Kaplan Diagnostic A Practice Test

The key idea here is safety when a healthcare worker is pregnant: avoid exposure to drugs with known teratogenic or mutagenic risks. Cyclophosphamide is a powerful cytotoxic chemotherapy agent that damages DNA and can cause fetal harm, including miscarriage, congenital anomalies, and growth problems if a pregnant nurse is exposed during handling or administration. Because of that fetal risk, this drug should not be handled or administered by someone who is pregnant; tasks involving it should be assigned to nonpregnant staff and strict safety protocols must be followed to prevent any exposure.

Rifampin, amphotericin B, and mafenide are not categorically contraindicated for a pregnant nurse in the same way. They may be used in pregnancy when clinically indicated, with appropriate precautions and monitoring. The distinguishing factor is cyclophosphamide’s known teratogenic potential, which makes it inappropriate for a pregnant caregiver to handle.