What is the main purpose of having a negative pressure buffer area in hazardous drug preparation?

The main purpose of having a negative pressure buffer area in hazardous drug preparation is to prevent airborne contamination. This is critical in environments where hazardous drugs are manipulated, as these substances can pose significant health risks to pharmacy staff and patients if they are inadvertently released into the atmosphere.

In a negative pressure environment, the air pressure inside the area is lower than that of the surrounding areas. This configuration ensures that, if there is any contamination or leakage of hazardous substances, the air will flow into the buffer area from adjacent spaces rather than escaping into them. This containment helps to protect healthcare workers and minimizes the risk of exposure to dangerous compounds, ensuring a safer working environment while compounding and handling these drugs.

The other options, while they may relate to aspects of pharmacy practice, do not specifically address the primary safety function served by a negative pressure buffer area in the context of hazardous drug preparation. Enhancing air quality or increasing air circulation may be beneficial in certain settings, but they do not encapsulate the main goal of preventing contamination that can lead to serious health hazards. Temperature control is also important for medication stability, but unrelated to the unique role of negative pressure in contamination prevention.