Studies on the decontamination of surfaces exposed to cytotoxic drugs in chemotherapy workstations

Abstract

<jats:p> Objective. The aim of this study was to examine the removal and deactivation of cytotoxic contamination from surfaces of a pharmaceutical isolator workstation. </jats:p><jats:p> Methods. Three marker cytotoxic drugs were evaluated in three phases using decontamination technologies currently available in the pharmaceutical and healthcare environments. Phase I investigated the physical removal of contamination by detergents. Phase II and III investigated the effectiveness of detergents and Vaporised Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP®) in degrading cytotoxic drugs, respectively. </jats:p><jats:p> Results. 5-Flurouracil, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide were removed from a surface by wiping with detergents. VHP® and alkaline detergents caused degradation of doxorubicin. The observed effect with detergent cleaning was pH dependent, but neither of the technologies applied had any effect on the chemical stability of 5-flurouracil and cyclophosphamide under the conditions tested. </jats:p>