Antineoplastic drugs in hospital administration units

The contamination of surfaces by antineoplastic drugs represents an increasing risk factor within healthcare environments. The primary causes are the rise in the number of prescriptions and patients treated in hospital oncology departments. Protective measures are implemented to safeguard workers involved in drug preparation within compounding units and administration units. The focus is on preventing contamination at the level of transfusion bags, while contamination from the biological fluids of treated patients, particularly urine, is significantly underestimated. Incorrect use of the toilet by patients due to ongoing intravenous therapy and poor personal hygiene is, at the time being, the most notable source of contamination inside administration units. In this context, the use of automatic toilet seats was tested in the departments of an Italian hospital to reduce the risk associated with the administration of antineoplastic drugs while simultaneously increasing the comfort of patients during day hospital treatments. The primary objective was to achieve a measurable reduction in surface contamination levels and thus assess improvements in patient and staff safety. Contamination levels of various surfaces inside the washrooms were monitored using UV lamps, focusing on the washroom floor, the surface of the toilet seat, and faucet. Samples were collected through wipe test sampling and then analysed using a UHPLC-MS/MS system. The results from the analyses and evaluations showed a promising reduction in contamination of the selected areas thanks to the use of the tested devices, accompanied by strong positive feedback from users.