What does the containment primary engineering control (C-PEC) aim to minimize?

The containment primary engineering control (C-PEC) is specifically designed to minimize work and environmental exposures to hazardous drugs. This is crucial in healthcare settings where handling such drugs poses significant risks to pharmacy personnel and patients if not managed properly. The C-PEC functions as a physical barrier, employing technologies like hoods to ensure that hazardous substances are contained during preparation and compounding processes. By effectively containing airborne contaminants and preventing leakage into the surrounding environment, the C-PEC safeguards both the healthcare workers who handle these medications and minimizes potential exposure to patients.

In contrast, while hospital costs, patient wait times, and inventory management are important aspects of healthcare operations, they are not the primary concerns addressed by the C-PEC. The focus of the C-PEC is entirely on safety regarding hazardous drugs, making option B the correct and most relevant choice in this context.