Christopher R Friese1, Cristin McArdle, Ting Zhao, Duxin Sun, Ivan Spasojevic, Martha Polovich, Marjorie C McCullagh. 1. Author Affiliations: School of Nursing (Drs Friese and McCullagh) and College of Pharmacy, Pharmacokinetics Core (Dr Zhao), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing (Ms McArdle); Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center and Duke Cancer Institute Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics Bioanalytical Core Lab, Durham, North Carolina (Dr Spasojevic); and Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing, Georgia State University, Atlanta (Dr Polovich).
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Exposure to antineoplastic drugs confers health risks to workers, yet little is known about the exposure after a drug spill, nor has the relationship between exposure and organizational factors such as staffing and work environment been studied. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate drug spills prospectively using biological measures and correlate drug spills with organizational factors. METHODS: Prospective questionnaires with 8-hour timed urine samples were collected from nursing and pharmacy personnel who reported drug spill events in 1 academic health center's infusion center. Urine was collected similarly from workers who did not report a spill. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry techniques identified detectable drug levels. After the prospective sampling period, workers were surveyed on workloads, practice environment, and safety behaviors. RESULTS: From 81 eligible individuals, 40 participated in the prospective study and 19 completed retrospective questionnaires. Four spills were reported by 9 personnel, as multiple employees were exposed to drug spills. Four participants who reported a spill showed detectable levels of antineoplastic drugs. Four participants who did not report a spill had detectable levels of docetaxel. Compared with respondents who did not report a spill, collegial relations with physicians were significantly poorer for workers who reported spills. CONCLUSIONS: The study protocol successfully captured drug spill reports and biological samples. Workers have detectable levels of antineoplastic drugs through both drug spills and environmental contamination. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Multisite research studies and practice-based quality improvement approaches are needed to improve adherence to personal protective equipment use and safe handling procedures.
BACKGROUND: Exposure to antineoplastic drugs confers health risks to workers, yet little is known about the exposure after a drug spill, nor has the relationship between exposure and organizational factors such as staffing and work environment been studied. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate drug spills prospectively using biological measures and correlate drug spills with organizational factors. METHODS: Prospective questionnaires with 8-hour timed urine samples were collected from nursing and pharmacy personnel who reported drug spill events in 1 academic health center's infusion center. Urine was collected similarly from workers who did not report a spill. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry techniques identified detectable drug levels. After the prospective sampling period, workers were surveyed on workloads, practice environment, and safety behaviors. RESULTS: From 81 eligible individuals, 40 participated in the prospective study and 19 completed retrospective questionnaires. Four spills were reported by 9 personnel, as multiple employees were exposed to drug spills. Four participants who reported a spill showed detectable levels of antineoplastic drugs. Four participants who did not report a spill had detectable levels of docetaxel. Compared with respondents who did not report a spill, collegial relations with physicians were significantly poorer for workers who reported spills. CONCLUSIONS: The study protocol successfully captured drug spill reports and biological samples. Workers have detectable levels of antineoplastic drugs through both drug spills and environmental contamination. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Multisite research studies and practice-based quality improvement approaches are needed to improve adherence to personal protective equipment use and safe handling procedures.
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