Evaluation of the efficacy of additional measures introduced for the protection of healthcare personnel handling antineoplastic drugs

Abstract

Objectives: Due to their adverse effects, antineoplastic drugs are considered as a potential health risk to healthcare personnel. The objective of the study was to compare the surface contamination level of the conventional preparation room and outpatient clinic before and after the implementation of a set of additional protective measures.Methods: The measures were targeted at eliminating potential sources of environmental contamination, and modification of the cleaning procedure. The measures introduced into the preparation room consisted of (i) the introduction of manual cleaning of drug vials before they enter the preparation room, (ii) the modification of the routine cleaning procedure performed at the end of each working day (i.e. shifting the cleaning of the isolators as the most contaminated objects from the beginning of the cleaning process to the end), and (iii) the introduction of regular cleaning of the work table every 2h. The measures introduced into the outpatient clinic consisted of (i) replacement of the standard infusion sets with multichannel sets for safe drug administration, (ii) the introduction of self-cleaning seats to the patient lavatories supporting hygienic and contamination-free seated urination, and (iii) replacement of standard infusion stands with wall-mounted stands, supporting the regular and proper cleaning of the floor beneath. To determine the surface contamination level with antineoplastic drugs, cyclophosphamide and platinum were determined in wipe samples with high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.Results: In the preparation room, depending on the sampling spot and analyte, median concentrations ranged from 5 to 267 pg cm-2 and from 2 to 368 pg cm-2 before and after implementation of the measures, respectively. In the outpatient clinic, median concentrations ranged from 5 to 5310 pg cm-2 and from <0.2 to 574 pg cm-2 before and after implementation of the measures, respectively. Depending on the sampling spot, median contamination of the outpatient clinic with cyclophosphamide and platinum was reduced by 57-99% and 61-98%, respectively.Conclusions: The measures implemented in the outpatient clinic were shown to reduce workplace contamination effectively. Therefore, they can be recommended also for other workplaces where antineoplastic drugs are administered. In contrast, measures implemented in the preparation room, where relatively strict regulations had already been adopted before the study, were less effective. To decrease the actual contamination of the preparation room, other protective measures (e.g. closed-system transfer devices) should be considered. © 2012 © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society.