Personal Protective Equipment Use in Chemotherapy Administration

Stacy J. Ravert, RN, BSNMaster’s of Nursing Candidate

University of WashingtonSchool of Nursing

What is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)? Personal protective equipment includes:

Gloves Gowns Shoe covers Face/eye protection NIOSH approved respirator

Why are PPE important

1970’s found secondary cancers in patients who had received chemotherapy agents

Researchers have reported that nurses who are exposed to chemotherapy agents have increased incidence of cancers

Dermal exposure is thought to be the primary route of exposure to chemotherapy agents.

Inhalation may also be a significant source of exposure.

Skin Exposure to Chemotherapy

Dermal exposure from chemotherapy spill. Scaring is likely to occur.

Photo courtesy of: James Tinguely, TycoHealthcare

I Should Use PPE When: Preparing chemotherapy Introducing or withdrawing

needles from vials Transferring drugs using

needles or syringes Opening ampules Expelling air from drug

filled syringes Administering all

hazardous drugs by any route

I Should Use PPE When:

Spiking IV bags and changing any tubing in the biological safety cabinet Note: IV tubing should not be spiked at the

point of administration Priming IV tubing Handling leakage from tubing, syringe, and

connection sites Disposing of hazardous drugs and items

contaminated by hazardous drugs

I Should Use PPE When:

Handling the body fluids of a patient who received hazardous agents in the past 48 hours (longer if the hazardous agent has a longer half life)

Cleaning up of hazardous agent spills

Gowns

Should be: Lint free Made of low permeability fabric

i.e. polyethene-coated material Have a solid front Long sleeves Tight cuffs Back closure

Photo courtesy of Tycohealthcare

Gloves

Are essential Must be worn at all times when handling drug

packaging, cartons, drug vials, inventory control procedures, and when gathering hazardous drug and supplies.

Gloves should be powder free. Wash hands thoroughly prior to and after

donning gloves.

Photo courtesy of Tycohealthcare

Gloves continued Gloves should be worn for no

more than 30 minutes Change gloves immediately

if: They are torn Punctured Knowingly contaminated

Use thick Gloves Use gloves long enough to

cover gown cuffs.

Photo courtesy of Tycohealthcare

Gloves Continued

Gloves worn to handle chemotherapy agents should be disposed of as hazardous waste

Gloves must be tested for use with chemotherapy agents

Double glove Meets ASTM Standard D6319 (as noted on

glove box)

Double gloves and ASTM Standard

Nurses should double glove even when using gloves conforming to the ASTM standard to prevent potential skin contamination in the following situations: Gloves become inadvertently torn When removing contaminated gloves In the event of a glove puncture

What is ASTM

ASTM International is an international voluntary standards organization that develops and produces technical standards for materials, products, systems and services. It was formed in 1898 in the United States as the American Society for Testing and Materials by a group of scientists and engineers.

ASTM Standard D6319

This test measures the resistance of protective clothing materials to liquid or gaseous chemicals under the condition of continuous contact.

For chemotherapy gloves the standard is 30 minutes.

Shoe covers

Use if there is a potential for floor contamination

Use if cleaning up a chemotherapy spill Remove shoe covers with gloved hand before

leaving area Discard shoe covers as hazardous waste

Masks Surgical masks DO NOT

provide adequate protection Use a NIOSH approved

respirator (N95) that has been fit-tested Wear if air contaminated.

Must comply with OSHA’S respiratory protection standard

Use when cleaning up drug spills

NIOSH Approved maskPhoto courtesy of Tycohealthcare

Use Facial Protection

If possibility for splashing or uncontrolled aerosolization will occur

If goggles or safety glasses will not provide enough protection

OSHA recommends to use a NIOSH approved respirator

Web links to resources OSHA: Hazardous Drugs

www.osha.gov/SLTC/hazardousdrugs/recognition.html OSHA Technical Manual Section VI, Chapter 2

http://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/otm_vi/otm_vi_2.html ASHP Pre-publication guidelines

http://www.ashp.org/bestpractices/new/HD-Prepub-final.pdf

NIOSH Alert: Preventing Occupational exposures to antineoplastic and other hazardous drugs in the health care setting http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-165/

ReferencesAmerican Society of Health-System Pharmacist. ASHP Guidelines

on Handling Hazardous Drugs. Accessed April 24, 2006, from http://www.ashp.org/bestpractices/new/HD-Prepub-final.pdf

Centers for Disease Control (2004). NIOSH Alert: Preventing Occupational exposures to antineoplastic and other hazardous drugs in the health care setting. Accessed April 24, 2006, from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-165/

Occupational Safety Health Administration (last updated March 2, 2004). OSHA Technical Manual: Section VI: Chapter 2. Retrieved April 23, 2006, from http://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/otm_vi/otm_vi_2.html

Polovich, M., White, J. M., Kelleher, L.O. (eds.) (2005). Chemotherapy and biotherapy guidelines and recommendations for practice. Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society.