title: Preventing the contamination of hospital personnel by cytotoxic agents: evaluation and training of the para-professional healthcare workers in oncology units.
abstract: This study was specifically focused on para-professional healthcare workers (PHCWs) who handle cytotoxic drugs and contaminated wastes at the Public Teaching Hospitals of Marseille (AP-HM), France. It first aimed at evaluating the knowledge and professional practice of the PHCWs who belong to a personnel category among the less informed and protected in hospitals. In a second time, this study also proposed to raise awareness, educate and train the staff on protective measures to minimise the exposure of the PHCWs to the potential toxicity of anticancer chemotherapy agents (or metabolites) when cleaning and handling both cytotoxic drugs and wastes. Among the 11 oncology units evaluated, 82% completed an assessment survey, 63% of which were PHCWs. Out of nine oncology units assessed, 89% reported limited knowledge of the general risk and of the safe handling of cytotoxic drugs, 89% reported using vinyl gloves which are the less protective ones. Forty-four per cent of the units used wet sweeping techniques for cleaning the floors, and 11% of the units did not have specific procedures for cleaning the equipments used for collecting contaminated excreta. Protective outer apparel was not always worn and chemotherapy wastes were not managed consistently between all units. Standardized procedures and guidelines to prevent occupational exposure were not used by PHCWs. More education and training are needed to improve safety.
authors.affiliation: Service Central de la Qualité et de l'Information Pharmaceutiques (SCQIP), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Marseille; Aix-Marseille Université, Faculté de Pharmacie, Institut de Chimie Radicalaire, Marseille.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kieffer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verhaeghe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lagrassa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grégoire
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Moussaoui
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Casteras-Ducros
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vanelle
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rathelot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000592:standards; D004517:Education, Professional / Q000592:standards; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D017575:Gloves, Protective; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000193:education; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003603:Cytotoxins; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal
keywords: PHCWs; cytotoxic agents; cytotoxic wastes; education; information; prevention