CN33 - How to work with swiptests in an oncology outpatient ward: An occupational safety project

Background

For several years, we have been working to be able to perform swip tests to detect any residues of cytotoxic drugs. The pharmacy prepares all medicines, and infusion tubes contain only sodium chloride. The nurses work in a closed system so that residues of cytostatics do not spread in the department. An important partner in this work is also the patient. Today we have a laboratory that can carry out tests for five different anticancer agents.

Methods

November 2020, the first swip test was performed.11 different surfaces were sampled including medicine room, infusion bag from the pharmacy, desk, floor on the expedition, infusion pump, floor at the patient's place, patient toilet, floor in the corridor, lid on the garbage can, pacto-safe. May 2021a follow-up sampling of surfaces was carried out with an extension of the following surfaces: transport box for the infusion bags from the pharmacy, floors in the staff room, more toilet floors. November 2021 a third sampling was carried out focusing on the floors of the patient toilets.

Results

We got a rash on five surfaces: floors in the patient toilet, floors in the medicine room, below the pacto-safe, floors in the staff room and the infusion bag from the pharmacy .Before the second measurement, we had a review in the working group about our working methods. The cleaning company updated its guidelines regarding personal protective equipment for the cleaners. They also updated the cleaning instructions for the patient toilets. One problem that was identified was that the floors in the patient toilets have anti-slip protection. In the second measurement, cleaning of the patient toilets had been increased from once per day to twice per day. The improvements that had been carried out had the desired effect and we only had rashes on the floors of the patient toilets and on the infusion bag from the pharmacy. Before the third measurement, we expanded the cleaning in the patient toilets.The results showed that we have rashes on the floors of the patient toilets.

Conclusions

The result shows that we have improved the working environment. We have less rash on the surfaces through changed working methods and changed and expanded cleaning routines. The challenge is the floors on the patient toilets.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.