1 BGW • Pappelallee 35/37 • 22089 Hamburg • www.bgw-online.de Wipe Sample Monitoring on Workplace Contamination with Antineoplastic Drugs in Pharmacies Heinemann A1, Eickmann U1, Kiffmeyer TK2, Tuerk J2, Stuetzer H3, Hahn M3, Hadtstein C4 (1) (2) (3) (4) Berufsgenossenschaft für Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege, BGW, Cologne, Germany Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology, IUTA e.V., Duisburg, Germany Institute of Medical Statistics, Informatics & Epidemiology, IMSIE, Cologne, Germany Institute of Applied Pharmacy, IfAP e.V., Cologne, Germany Introduction and Aims: Antineoplastic drug applications for the treatment of cancer patients are prepared in some 800 German pharmacies. These drugs have carcinogenic, mutagenic and/or adverse developmental or reproductive properties and effective safety measures are therefore required to protect the employees. The BGW therefore launched a large-scale study (MEWIP*) in order to determine the contamination level and to investigate the suitability and effects of wipe sample monitoring at regular intervals. Further aims were to investigate the causes of contamination, its spread and the development of strategies for minimizing exposure. In terms of the study, the BGW expected monitoring to promote readiness for taking appropriate measures to improve working conditions and occupational safety. The German ordinance on the handling of hazardous substances (GefStoffV) also stipulates measurements of such workplaces. For the purpose of the study, wipe samples in 130 German pharmacies (hospitals and public pharmacies) were taken from three sampling locations from early 2006 until the end of 2007. Fig. 1: Preparation area Fig. 2: Sampling areas (floor, work top, fridge door) Fig. 3: Wiping directions Substance load (ng/cm2) 10000 substance load MEWIP-396: 0.6509 ranking MEWIP-396: 88 LOQ: 0.0128 values ≥ LOQ: 57 / 100 minimum: < LOQ 25th percentile: < LOQ median: 0.0169 75th percentile: 0.122 maximum: 11791 calculated values in (ng/cm2) 1000 100 50 20 10 5 Methods: Three selected sampling areas (floor in front of the safety cabinet, most intensively used work top, fridge door including handle) were repeatedly monitored by wipe sampling. The samples were analysed for their amount of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), Cyclophosphamide (CP), Gemcitabine (Gem), Me* Monitoring-Effect-Study of Wipe Sampling in Pharmacies 2 1 0.5 0.2 0.1 0.05 0.02 0.0128 0 100 90 80 70 Ranking Fig. 4: Report for participants 60 50 2 BGW • Pappelallee 35/37 • 22089 Hamburg • www.bgw-online.de thotrexate (MTX), Etoposide (Eto), Ifosfamide (IF), Docetaxel (Doc) and Paclitaxel (Pac). In addition, the working conditions were recorded by a detailed questionnaire on working procedures (e.g. type and amounts handled, hazards and spillage, cleaning procedures, waste management, protective equipment, education of personnel, training). The participating pharmacies were split into two study groups: 55 pharmacies performed quarterly wipe sampling and were informed about the analytical results throughout the study (group A), while in the remaining 75 sites, samples were taken only at the start and end of the study and the analyses values were not reported until the project had finished (group B). Samples were taken under strict, standardised conditions and the results were made anonymous (Fig. 4). Each sampling surface was wiped clean with three cloths which had been soaked in a solvent especially adapted for this purpose (Fig. 2, 3). Once the samples had been processed, they were analysed by means of tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A total of 1,272 wipe samples were taken resulting in 10,176 individual values. Project phases Period 2005 Year II Quarter III Partner(s) 2006 IV I II III 2007 IV I II III IV Phase 1: Contact pharmacies, 1st questionnaire IUTA (BGW, IMSIE, IfAP) Phase 2: Evaluation 1st questionnaire IUTA, IfAP (BGW, IMSIE) Phase 3: Prepare and develop the study design BGW, IUTA, IMSIE Phase 4: Kick-off events BGW (IUTA, IMSIE, IfAP) Phase 5: 2nd questionnaire, interview, monitoring IUTA, IfAP (BGW, IMSIE) Phase 6: Evaluation, feedback to the pharmacies IUTA, IMSIE (BGW) Phase 7: Develop handling instructions BGW, IUTA Phase 8: Final report, closing event, publications (to 7/08) BGW, IUTA, IMSIE, IfAP Fig. 5: Project work plan and time schedule 5-Fluorouracil Cyclophosphamide Etoposide Cisplatin Gemcitabine Carboplatin Cytarabine Irinotecan Oxaliplatin Doxorubicin Epirubicin Docetaxel Paclitaxel Vinorelbine Vincristine Methotrexate Trastuzumab Ifosfamide Fludarabine Rituximab 0 20.000 40.000 60.000 80.000 100.000 120.000 140.000 160.000 180.000 Fig. 6: Number of preparations by substance per 100 pharmacies in 2005 Percentage 40 Results: Sixteen percent, i.e. 1,699 readings, are positive. In 61% of the 1,272 wipe samples, at least one of the eight substances was established. In conformity with the stated consumption quantities, 5-Fluorouracil, Cyclophosphamide und Gemcitabine were found more frequently and in higher concentrations than the other analysed cytostatics. The floors in front of the workbench were the most contaminated position, followed by the work surfaces and the 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 5-FU Gem MTX CP IF Eto Fig. 7: Percentage of positive wipe samples by substance Doc Pac 200.000 3 BGW • Pappelallee 35/37 • 22089 Hamburg • www.bgw-online.de refrigerator doors. The measured concentrations were similar to those found in other studies and ranged from below the limit of quantification (LOQ) through to a peak value of 1,888 ng/cm2 for Gemcitabine. It is notable, that the 9 highest values were found in two pharmacies only (Fig. 8). No correlation between the number of cytostatic preparations, the amount of substances handled, the day of the last cleaning and the substance load on the surface concerned could be found (for instance Fig. 9). Neither was it possible to verify a correlation with most of the other data describing the work practices. There are no notable differences between hospital pharmacies and dispensaries (Fig. 10). The readings can be used to identify exemplary pharmacies. An explorative significant correlation between the degree of disinfection, type of disinfection and substance load was established. The type of ventilation (circulating air/outgoing air) tends to have an influence, although this cannot be statistically verified. The 90th percentile of the substance loads dropped during the course of the study in group A (Fig. 11). Phamacy Position Cycle of Wiping Type of Pharmacy Study group Substance Substance load (ng/cm2) 1 „A“ Fridge 1 Hospital pharmacy A Gemcitabine 1,888 2 „A“ Work top 4 Hospital pharmacy A Gemcitabine 190 3 „A“ Fridge 2 Hospital pharmacy A Gemcitabine 109 4 „B“ Floor 2 Hospital pharmacy A Gemcitabine 105 5 „B“ Floor 3 Hospital pharmacy A Ifosphamide 89 6 „B“ Work top 1 Hospital pharmacy A Methotrexate 35 7 „B“ Work top 1 Hospital pharmacy A Ifosphamide 31 8 „B“ Floor 1 Hospital pharmacy A Ifosphamide 26 9 „B“ Work top 1 Hospital pharmacy A 5-Fluorouracil 24 10 „C“ Work top 1 Dispensary B 5-Fluorouracil 18 11 „D“ Fridge 5 Hospital pharmacy B Cyclophosphamide 17 12 „E“ Work top 2 Hospital pharmacy A Ifosphamide 17 13 „F“ Fridge 4 Dispensary A 5-Fluorouracil 14 14 „G“ Work top 1 Hospital pharmacy B 5-Fluorouracil 13 15 „H“ Work top 3 Dispensary A 5-Fluorouracil 11 16 „I“ Work top 5 Dispensary A 5-Fluorouracil 11 Fig. 8: Top values by substance load Substance load (ng/cm2) 20 one pharmacy excluded (substance load = 0.52873 ng/cm2, preparation = 19700) 10 5 2 1 0.5 0.2 0.1 0.05 0.02 0.01 0.005 0.002 0 0 500 1000 Wipe samples are a proper method for a standardised ambient monitoring on workplace contamination with antineoplastic drugs. Values below 0.1 ng/cm2 are achievable and can be discussed as “prior art”. 2000 2500 4000 4500 5000 5500 Substance load (ng/cm2) Percentage 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 45 1 40 35 4 0.020 5-Flourouracil Gemcitabine Methotrexate Cyclophosphamide Ifosphamide Etoposide Docetaxel Paclitaxel Group A Group B 0.015 4 2 2 30 5 1 25 0.010 20 15 0.005 5 10 6 3 5 7 8 6 7 8 0 Dispensaries Contact: [email protected], +49 (0)221 377 25 07, version 2008 3500 Fig. 9: Correlation between substance load and number of preparations for 5-FU during 2006 (group B) 3 The final MEWIP report will be available for download in German from autumn 2008 on the homepage of the BGW. 3000 Preparation 5-Fluorouracil 50 Conclusions: 1500 Hospital pharmacies Fig. 10: Percentage of positive wipe samples 0.000 Cycle 1 Cycle 2 Cycle 3 Cycle 4 Cycle 5 Fig. 11: 90th Percentile over all substances and surfaces Berufsgenossenschaft für Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege
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