Healthcare Workers At Risk: Researchers at Utah's Huntsman Cancer Institute Demonstrate Biological Uptake of Chemotherapy Drugs.
Traditional assumptions about safe drug handling are challenged by a study published in the current edition of the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. This study confirms European findings that, despite existing protective measures, there persists widespread surface contamination with antineoplastic drugs in the workplace and employee exposure to carcinogenic or mutagenic particulates and vapors. Results show that the PhaSeal(r) System, now distributed in the U.S. by Denver-based Baxa Corporation can reduce or eliminate human exposure to cancer chemotherapy drugs.
Englewood, CO (PRWEB) November 20, 2003 -- In a study published in the
current edition (dated Nov. 15, 2003) of the American Journal of Health-System
Pharmacy, clinicians from the University of Utah report they reduced employee
exposure and surface contamination in the chemotherapy infusion center of the
Huntsman Cancer Institute by using PhaSeal(r), a closed system for hazardous
drug preparation and administration distributed in the U.S. by Denver-based Baxa
Corporation. The announcement is made by Greg Baldwin, Baxa Corp. chairman and
CEO.
The study, entitled "Using a Closed-System Protective Device to
Reduce Personnel Exposure to Antineoplastic Agents," documented the biological
uptake of cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide in infusion center pharmacy and
nursing staff despite their use of standard precautions and guidelines for safe
handling. Six months following the adoption of the PhaSeal System, the presence
of these two drugs in urine samples from center personnel was reduced to
undetectable levels. The study also showed that drug contamination initially
detected on infusion center surfaces was significantly reduced following
implementation of the PhaSeal System.
"As a result of our study, we've
now extended the use of the PhaSeal System from Huntsman to everywhere within
the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics where cancer chemotherapy is
handled and prepared," says James Jorgenson, RPh, MS, one of the study's authors
and Director of Pharmacy and Associate Dean for Professional Affairs at the
University of Utah.
Baseline measurements of personnel exposure to the
chemotherapy drugs cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide were made in January 2002 in
the Huntsman Cancer Institute's chemotherapy infusion center and pharmacy.
Surface contamination was measured by collecting wipe samples of selected
facility and equipment surfaces. These measurements yielded positive results for
all samples.
Urine samples were collected from infusion center pharmacy
and nursing personnel at the same time. Test results indicated that there had
been biological uptake of the two drugs in infusion center nursing and pharmacy
staff.
"These positive results surprised us for two reasons," says Mr.
Jorgenson. "First, Huntsman opened in November 2000, so it was virtually a brand
new facility with state-of-the-art equipment and staff training. Second, the
only chemotherapy exposure for the pharmacy technician who tested positive was
checking in and shelving the daily drug order."
Following the baseline
tests, the PhaSeal closed-loop drug containment system was implemented in the
chemotherapy infusion center, while continuing the preparation and
administration safeguards already in use. Six months later, in June 2002, the
urine and surface wipe tests were repeated. These results demonstrated that
after six months of PhaSeal use, the two chemotherapy drugs were no longer
detectable in urine samples and surface contamination was significantly
reduced.
A special assay method was designed for this study to detect
both drugs in a single sample using mass-spectrometry with liquid
chromatography.
About the Investigators
Authors of the study, all
affiliated with the University of Utah, were: Catherine Wick, PharmD, Clinical
Pharmacist; Mathew H. Slawson, PhD, Assistant Director, Center of Human
Toxicology and Research Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology; James A.
Jorgenson, RPh, MS, Director of Pharmacy and Associate Dean for Professional
Affairs; and Linda S. Tyler, PharmD, Pharmacy Manager for Drug Information
Services and Professor (Clinical) Pharmacy Practice.
About Baxa
Corporation
As a leading provider of devices and systems for the preparation,
handling, packaging, and administration of liquid medications, Baxa manufactures
and markets a wide range of healthcare products for use in hospitals, critical
care units and alternate-site pharmacies. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado,
Baxa has subsidiaries and sales offices in Canada, the United Kingdom; Denmark,
and Germany; and distribution partners worldwide. Further information is
available at http://www.baxa.com.
About Carmel Pharma ab
The
PhaSeal System is manufactured in Sweden by Carmel Pharma ab of Göteborg,
Sweden. Introduced in Europe in 1994, the PhaSeal System is now used in most
Swedish hospitals, with its benefits documented by a significant body of
scientific research on the health risks associated with the preparation and
administration of cytotoxic drugs. The PhaSeal System is protected by a
comprehensive patent portfolio in the U.S., European Union and Japan. For more
information on Carmel Pharma, visit http://www.carmelpharma.se.
Click the following link to
view a presentation by Jim Jorgenson "Using a Closed System Device to Reduce
Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Drugs." Jorgenson is Director of Pharmacy for
the Huntsman Cancer Institute and Associate Dean for Professional Affairs at the
University of Utah:
http://www.isips.org/presentations/PhaSeal/player.html
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2003/11/prweb89996.htm