Hazardous drugs such as antineoplastic drugs effectively treat cancer, but there is increasing evidence that unintended exposure to these drugs through contact with contaminated surfaces in places where these drugs are handled, such as hospitals, outpatient facilities, and veterinary clinics, can lead to adverse health effects. Chronic low level exposures have been linked to increased risks of spontaneous abortions, as well as cardiovascular and genetic effects.

Surveillance for environmental contamination of antineoplastic drugs has been recommended by authoritative bodies such as the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) and the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA).

Dr. Susan Arnold and Dr. Hugh Davies will provide an introduction to the importance of this issue, how these environments become contaminated, and a strategy for evaluating the environments and surfaces to efficiently and effectively detect contamination where it exists so that prevention measures can be improved to protect worker health.

Learning Outcomes:
Following this education session, learners will be able to:
– Describe the challenges of undertaking surface-wipe-based surveillance sampling for anti-neoplastic drugs
– Identify a surface-wipe surveillance sampling strategy for anti-neoplastic drugs in a clinical care setting
– Describe results from a surface-wipe-based surveillance program
– Summarize ongoing limitations and challenges in a surface-wipe-based surveillance program