title: Comparative parallel assessment of a transfer device in reducing 5-fluorouracil environmental contamination inside positive air pressure isolators.
abstract: The environmental contamination of the antineoplastic drugs circuit, due to the centralization of preparation and the increased number of the patients treated, brought about a new occupational hazard: the chronic exposure to low doses of antineoplastic drugs. The rationalization of the hospital budgets imposes a meticulous assessment of the devices available for the preparation, in order to justify their interest, even their cost. A prospective comparative study with parallel arms was led inside the Pharmacy of the Institut de Cancerologie de la Loire in order to evaluate the Spike Swan®, a transfer device. The aim was to assess the Spike Swan® effectiveness. The antineoplastic drugs environmental contamination within the isolators is considered as a potential starting point for a larger dissemination of cytotoxic products. Therefore, the primary endpoint was the surface contamination level with 5-fluorouracil and the comparator was the standard preparation technique using needles and aeration needles. This study did not show significant effectiveness for the Spike Swan® in reducing surface contamination. Nevertheless, this device could be used to prepare large volumes and to secure occasional handlers, because it is easy to handle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Innovation, CHU St Etienne, St Etienne, France. fabien.forges@chu-st-etienne.fr
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forges
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Simoens
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chauvin
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000032:analysis*; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000032:analysis*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D009339:Needles; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000379:methods; D011482:Protective Devices
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005472:Fluorouracil