Evaluation of an Exposure Prevention Device and Technique for Health Caregivers, Manufactured by Considering the Preparation and Administration Processes of Antineoplastic Agents

Abstract

The BD Phaseal^TM administration set, a new device for the BD Phaseal^TM closed system drug transfer device (CSTD), can prevent the occupational exposure of health caregivers to antineoplastic agents during all stages of the treatment process from preparation to administration. Further, a revised nursing approach for administration may prevent inadvertent antineoplastic agent spills. In this study, we compared the exposure levels of cyclophosphamide (CPA) and paclitaxel (PTX) between conventional methods and the new method described above; by sampling drug absorption sheets (a sampling sheet method) was used. In both methods, CPA was prepared using the BD Phaseal^TM CSTD and PTX was a plastic needle open system. For the new method, CPA was administered using the BD Phaseal^TM administration set and PTX was the revised nursing administration approach. Five pharmacists undertook the preparation process, and five nurses the administration process. Within the administration process using the conventional method, the following levels were detected: CPA 1.67 ng/cm² and PTX 0.077 ng/cm². No measurable levels were detected with the new method. For the preparation process, no CPA was detected, but PTX was detected. These results suggest that the use of the BD Phaseal^TM administration sets and the revised nursing administration approach is useful for preventing the occupational exposure of health caregivers to antineoplastic agents; this applies to both the preparation process and the administration processes.