Assessing Surface Contamination by Hazardous Drugs in a Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Ireland Using Surface Wipe Sampling

Objective To assess surface contamination by hazardous drugs in a comprehensive cancer centre in Ireland using surface wipe sampling. Methods This is a cross-sectional study using surface wipe sampling to assesses surface contamination by hazardous drugs in a Haematology Oncology Department. Wipe samples were collected from 42 surfaces across three clinical areas. Samples were analysed for six hazardous drugs: cyclophosphamide, etoposide, 5-fluorouracil, gemcitabine, ifosfamide and paclitaxel using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results This study found all hazardous drugs were detected at one or more sample sites across three clinical Haematology and Oncology areas. The detected hazardous drugs found included cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, etoposide, gemcitabine, ifosfamide and paclitaxel. Across all three areas, patient bathrooms were the most commonly contaminated surfaces. This study found the Haematology Oncology Day Ward had the highest number of surfaces contaminated with hazardous drugs, with five of fourteen surfaces tested and five of six drugs detected. Conclusion This research emphasizes, surface wipe testing as an essential occupational safety data tool, to obtain a full picture of hazardous drugs contamination in clinical areas. Implications for practice The importance of compliance with correct personal protective equipment to all nursing staff is a key implication for practice. This study’s results can be used in national Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy training programmes for new nurses to the area of Cancer Care. Nurses are in a prime position to monitor for hazardous drugs contamination. This allows a clinical area to benchmark hazardous drugs contamination on an annual basis.