Handling cytotoxic vials with gloves and having a procedure for the decontamination of vials are of the utmost importance for reducing exposure to cytotoxic drugs. Moreover, manufacturers must improve their procedures to provide products free from any contamination.

Purpose To evaluate the chemical contamination of surfaces by cytotoxic agents during preparation of injectable chemotherapies in hospital pharmacies. Methods 526 wipe samples collected in 24 Swiss hospital pharmacies were analysed using a validated liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry method able to quantify 10 cytotoxic agents: cytarabine, gemcitabine, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, methotrexate, etoposide phosphate, irinotecan, doxorubicin, epirubicin and vincristine. Information on chemotherapies produced, equipment and production processes used were collected from all the hospital pharmacies on a voluntary basis in order to investigate their association with contamination rates. Results In two pharmacies, no trace of the 10 cytotoxic agents was detected. Chemical contamination was found in the other 22 hospital pharmacies, with combined total contamination of the 10 cytotoxic agents ranging from 8 ng to more than 41 000 ng per sample. Most contaminated samples came from inside biosafety cabinets, but some came from other clean room areas and logistics rooms. Statistically significant associations were observed between contamination rates and sampling locations, the number of chemotherapies prepared per year and types of cleaning solutions used. Conclusions This study demonstrated that most of the hospital pharmacies tested had some contamination of surfaces by different cytotoxic agents. Even if highest levels of contamination were mainly detected inside biosafety cabinets, technicians were also exposed to cytotoxic agents detected in logistical and storage areas. Protective measures should therefore be maintained or even reinforced in these areas in order to limit technicians’ risks of exposure when handling cytotoxic products

Photodynamic therapy has emerged as a promising alternative to current cancer treatment. However, conventional photosensitizers have several limitations due to their unsuitable pharmaceutical formulations and lack of selectivity. Our strategy was to exploit the advantages of nanoparticles and the quenching-induced deactivation of the model photosensitizer hypericin to produce "activatable" drug delivery systems. Efficient fluorescence and activity quenching were achieved by increasing the drug-loading rate of nanoparticles. In vitro assays confirmed the reversibility of hypericin deactivation, as the hypericin fluorescence and photodynamic activity were recovered upon cell internalization.

Background In Switzerland, in the absence of a pharmaceutical service ensuring seamless care, treatment plans prescribed at hospital discharge may be difficult to understand and to validate for community pharmacists. Information sources on products and drug doses used in the hospital are often lacking. Continuity of care may be therefore disrupted. Purpose To determine which information could be useful for community pharmacists to ensure seamless care and provided through a dedicated web page. Material and method 1. Internet search (July 2009) of web sites from 43 hospitals (Switzerland 28, France 5, Canada 10) and evaluation of the available pharmaceutical information. 2. Survey of problems at hospital discharge observed by 9 students during their assistantship in community pharmacies (May 2009). 3. Creation of a web page on the internet site of the hospital pharmacy. Results Of the 43 hospital web sites, 22 (51%) had a web page dedicated to their hospital pharmacy but only 9 (21%) (Switzerland 6, France 0, Canada 3) did contain pharmaceutical information like preparation and administration of drugs, or pharmacology data. No web page was specifically intended for community pharmacists. Problems observed by students at discharge were mainly related to manufactured or imported products and to knowledge of paediatric doses used in the hospital setting. A web page was created with information about the hospital pharmacy (i.e out-of-hours pharmaceutical services), protocols of manufactured products with stability data, information on imported drugs and useful pharmacological and medical information for the validation of prescriptions (i.e usual hospital paediatric drug doses). Conclusion No web page specifically intended for community pharmacists has been found on the internet. A model has been created and published on the web site of the HUG pharmacy (http://pharmacie.hug-ge.ch/infos_prat/infos_officine.html). Satisfaction of community pharmacists regarding the content of this web page and impact on seamless care should be evaluated in the future.