Hygiena 2022, 67(1):20-27 | DOI: 10.21101/hygiena.a1800

The effectiveness of widely used disinfectants in removing contamination with cytotoxic drugs

Lenka Doležalová1, 4, Lucie Bláhová2, Jan Kuta2, Tereza Hojdarová2, Šárka Kozáková3, Luděk Bláha2
1 Masarykův onkologický ústav, Brno, Česká republika
2 Masarykova univerzita, Přírodovědecká fakulta, RECETOX, Brno, Česká republika
3 Fakultní nemocnice Brno, Brno, Česká republika
4 Masarykova univerzita, Farmaceutická fakulta, Brno, Česká republika

Objectives: Cytotoxic therapeutics (CT) pose a risk to healthcare professionals. Surface disinfectants are used in hospitals to prevent microbial contamination. Information about their effects on removing CT is incomplete. Our study has examined the effectiveness of selected disinfectants on CT floor contamination.

Methods: According to a survey in 43 hospitals, the nine most commonly used disinfectants were selected and tested for the presence of nine CTs - cyclophosphamide (CP), ifosfamide (IF), capecitabine (CAP), sunitinib (SUN), methotrexate (MET), doxorubicin (DOX), irinotecan (IRI), paclitaxel (PX) and 5-fluorouracil (FU).

Results: The most commonly used disinfectants in hospitals include agents based on hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, glucoprotamine, glutaraldehyde and alcohol. The most effective way to remove floor contamination is chlorine (which however releases irritating compounds) and hydrogen peroxide. The removal of carcinogenic CP was problematic. Alcohol-based agents can mobilize CL contamination from deeper layers of flooring material.

Conclusions: For everyday disinfection and decontamination of CT it is possible to recommend products based on oxidizing agents. Other agents have variable efficiency against CT. Cleaning processes should be complemented by the regular use of strong chlorine-based disinfectants, which are also effective against carcinogenic and persistent CP.

Keywords: cytotoxic therapeutics, disinfectants - effectiveness, decontamination, hospitals, work safety

Received: October 2021; Accepted: December 8, 2021; Published: February 28, 2022  Show citation

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Doležalová L, Bláhová L, Kuta J, Hojdarová T, Kozáková Š, Bláha L. The effectiveness of widely used disinfectants in removing contamination with cytotoxic drugs. Hygiena. 2022;67(1):20-27. doi: 10.21101/hygiena.a1800.
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