What characterizes irritants in chemotherapy?

Irritants in chemotherapy are characterized by their potential to cause inflammation and discomfort in the tissues surrounding the injection site, but they typically do not lead to significant tissue necrosis. This means that while patients may experience symptoms such as pain, swelling, or irritation at the site of administration, the damage is usually limited to inflammation rather than resulting in the death of tissue.

The distinction lies in how irritants differ from other types of chemotherapy agents, such as vesicants, which are known for causing severe tissue damage and necrosis. Furthermore, irritants may cause localized reactions, but these are generally manageable with supportive care and do not require the same level of precautions as vesicants.

In contrast to this characteristic, other options reflect either more severe outcomes that irritants do not typically cause, such as significant tissue necrosis or severe allergic reactions, or suggest administration routes that are not strict requirements for irritants. Therefore, the identification of irritants as agents that primarily induce inflammation and pain, while rarely resulting in necrosis, accurately encapsulates their nature in chemotherapy protocols.