Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2023-74-3734
Evaluation of the risk of occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs in healthcare sector: part I – medical gloves
Stefano Dugheri
orcid.org/0000-0002-3078-7188
Donato Squillaci
orcid.org/0000-0002-3078-7188
; University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy
Giovanni Cappelli
; University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy
Valentina Saccomando
; University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy
Niccolò Fanfani
; University of Florence, Mario Serio Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Florence, Italy
Jacopo Ceccarelli
orcid.org/0000-0002-0759-787X
; University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy
Nicola Mucci
; University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy
Giulio Arcangeli
; University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy
Abstract
Antineoplastic drugs (ADs) are essential tools in cancer treatment, but their cytotoxicity poses a risk to workers involved in their handling. In a hospital environment fundamental strategies for minimising exposure involve proper use of safety cabinets and closed-circuit transfer devices, along with personnel training and increased awareness of risks. However, medical gloves remain the first line of defence. In this respect the evaluation of glove materials and best choices can improve hospital safety management and prevent potential hazards and long-term consequences. The aim of this study was to assess contamination of gloves in samples taken from AD administration and preparation units of nine Italian hospitals and to raise awareness of the importance of evaluating chemico-physical properties of gloves. Our findings show that 33 % of the analysed gloves were positive for at least one AD, with contaminations ranging from 0.6 to 20,729 pg/cm2. We proposed the alert glove values (AGVs) for each AD as a limit value for contamination assessment and good practice evaluation. Our findings also point to multiple AD contamination (43 % of positive findings in preparation units), calculated as total AGV (AGV-T), and confirm that gloves should be replaced after 30 min of AD handling, based on cumulative permeation and area under the curve (AUC), to maintain safety and limit dermal exposure.
Keywords
alert glove values; glove contamination; glove permeation
Hrčak ID:
308236
URI
Publication date:
27.9.2023.
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