Multicenter study of environmental contamination with antineoplastic drugs in 33 Canadian hospitals

Abstract

Surface contamination by cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide and methotrexate in Canadian hospitals is improving both in terms of the proportions of positive samples and in terms of the surface concentration of antineoplastic drugs. A local 75th percentile value should be use to assess local contamination and interpret local results.

Causes of Health Care Workers’ Exposure to Antineoplastic Drugs: An Exploratory Study

“…5,7 Recent evidence has confirmed that a range of Canadian health care workers are at risk of exposure. Several studies have found detectable levels of drug contamination on various work surfaces, [8][9][10] and others have demonstrated the presence of antineoplastic drugs on health care workers' hands. 11,12 These findings are noteworthy, given that the main route of exposure to antineoplastic drugs for health care workers is through skin contact.…”

Environmental Contamination with Cyclophosphamide, Ifosfamide, and Methotrexate: A Study of 51 Canadian Centres

“…For calculations, concentrations that fell between the limit of detection and the limit of quantification were assigned a value corresponding to the limit of quantification divided by 2, 14 and concentrations that fell below the limit of detection were assigned a value corresponding to the limit of detection divided by 2. 15 Results from the hospitals that participated in the 3 earlier studies [10][11][12] and the current study were used for comparisons over time.…”

“…[10][11][12] Twelve standardized measurement sites, 6 in pharmacy areas and 6 in patient care areas, were selected for sampling (Table 1). These sites were identical with those targeted in the [2008][2009][2010]2012, and 2013 studies.…”

“…These sites were identical with those targeted in the [2008][2009][2010]2012, and 2013 studies. [10][11][12] Each participating hospital was given a description and photographs of the standardized sampling sites. The photographs provided were taken at the investigators' hospital.…”

“…[10][11][12] For a more recent investigation, reported here, the scope of study was expanded to include Canadian centres outside Quebec. The aim of this study was to monitor environmental contamination with cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, and methotrexate in oncology pharmacy and patient care areas in Canadian hospitals.…”