Bettina Kopp1, Rudolf Schierl, Dennis Nowak. 1. Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Ziemssenstrasse 1, 80336 Munich, Germany.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Many antineoplastic drugs are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic for humans. Therefore, minimization of exposure is required to reduce health risks to employees. The aim of this study was to evaluate working practices and safety measures during drug administration and to assess workplace contamination in outpatient oncology health care settings. METHODS: Questionnaires about working procedures were sent to 137 day hospitals and private practices. Workplace contamination with 5-fluorouracil, platinum, gemcitabine, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, methotrexate, docetaxel and paclitaxel was assessed using wipe samples. RESULTS: Forty institutions participated in the study, and in 28 departments, wipe samples were taken. Depending on the kind of activity, working procedures often (5-80%) were not confirmed with recommendations for safe handling of antineoplastic drugs. Altogether, 60.9% of the sampling results were above the limit of detection (LOD). Most frequent loads were detected with 5-FU (93.5%) and platinum (88.4%). Contamination was detected on all surfaces and the results ranged between <LOD up to 750,000 pg/cm². There was no correlation between the amount of drugs handled and the extent of surface contamination. However, specific working practices resulting in a lower number of positive wipe samples could be identified (e.g., use of closed infusion systems). CONCLUSION: Workplace contamination with antineoplastic drugs is still present. As patients have to be considered as a potential source of contamination, surface contamination is difficult to avoid. However, our study revealed that it is possible to administer a large number of preparations without causing high workplace contamination.
PURPOSE: Many antineoplastic drugs are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic for humans. Therefore, minimization of exposure is required to reduce health risks to employees. The aim of this study was to evaluate working practices and safety measures during drug administration and to assess workplace contamination in outpatient oncology health care settings. METHODS: Questionnaires about working procedures were sent to 137 day hospitals and private practices. Workplace contamination with 5-fluorouracil, platinum, gemcitabine, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, methotrexate, docetaxel and paclitaxel was assessed using wipe samples. RESULTS: Forty institutions participated in the study, and in 28 departments, wipe samples were taken. Depending on the kind of activity, working procedures often (5-80%) were not confirmed with recommendations for safe handling of antineoplastic drugs. Altogether, 60.9% of the sampling results were above the limit of detection (LOD). Most frequent loads were detected with 5-FU (93.5%) and platinum (88.4%). Contamination was detected on all surfaces and the results ranged between <LOD up to 750,000 pg/cm². There was no correlation between the amount of drugs handled and the extent of surface contamination. However, specific working practices resulting in a lower number of positive wipe samples could be identified (e.g., use of closed infusion systems). CONCLUSION: Workplace contamination with antineoplastic drugs is still present. As patients have to be considered as a potential source of contamination, surface contamination is difficult to avoid. However, our study revealed that it is possible to administer a large number of preparations without causing high workplace contamination.
Authors: Verena Segner; Renate Kimbel; Philipp Jochems; André Heinemann; Stephan Letzel; Daniel Wollschläger; Bernd Roßbach Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2017-01-16 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Patricia I Mathias; Thomas H Connor; Clayton B'Hymer Journal: J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci Date: 2017-06-19 Impact factor: 3.205
Authors: Feiby L Nassan; Christina C Lawson; Audrey J Gaskins; Candice Y Johnson; James M Boiano; Janet W Rich-Edwards; Jorge E Chavarro Journal: Am J Ind Med Date: 2019-06-20 Impact factor: 2.214
Authors: K-E Schenk; R Schierl; M Angele; A Burkhart-Reichl; G Glockzin; A Novotny; D Nowak Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2016-05-03 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Christina C Lawson; Candice Y Johnson; Feiby L Nassan; Thomas H Connor; James M Boiano; Carissa M Rocheleau; Jorge E Chavarro; Janet W Rich-Edwards Journal: Am J Nurs Date: 2019-01 Impact factor: 2.220