Abstract
Abstract
Purpose
The handling of antineoplastic drugs represents an occupational health risk for employees in pharmacies. To minimize exposure and to evaluate cleaning efficacy, wipe sampling was used to analyze antineoplastic drugs on surfaces. In 2009, guidance values were suggested to facilitate the interpretation of results, leading to a decrease in surface contamination. The goal of this follow-up was to evaluate the time trend of surface contamination, to identify critical antineoplastic drugs and sampling locations and to reassess guidance values.
Methods
Platinum, 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, gemcitabine, methotrexate, docetaxel and paclitaxel were analyzed in more than 17,000 wipe samples from 2000 to 2021. Statistical analysis was performed to describe and interpret the data.
Results
Surface contaminations were generally relatively low. The median concentration for most antineoplastic drugs was below the limit of detection except for platinum (0.3 pg/cm2). Only platinum and 5-fluorouracil showed decreasing levels over time. Most exceedances of guidance values were observed for platinum (26.9%), cyclophosphamide (18.5%) and gemcitabine (16.6%). The most affected wipe sampling locations were isolators (24.4%), storage areas (17.6%) and laminar flow hoods (16.6%). However, areas with no direct contact to antineoplastic drugs were also frequently contaminated (8.9%).
Conclusion
Overall, the surface contaminations with antineoplastic drugs continue to decrease or were generally at a low level. Therefore, we adjusted guidance values according to the available data. The identification of critical sampling locations may help pharmacies to further improve cleaning procedure and reduce the risk of occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs.
Funder
Universitätsklinik München
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cited by
3 articles.
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