SAFE HANDLING OF ONCOLOGY DRUGS

Every year brings new hope and improves the outlook for patients with cancer. Advancements in biology, patient care and new treatments are key drivers to fight the battle with the world greatest healthcare challenge. Cytostatic drugs thanks

to their healing power of destroying cancer cells, are considered one of the most effective ways of oncology therapies. The same substances which are lifesaving for patients, may also harm healthy cells of those involved in their handling. Three

protective clothing ranges - Tyvek® IsoClean®, Tyvek® and Tychem® not only provide confidence for people involved in cancer treatments, but also protect cytostatics from contamination, to ensure the highest quality of drugs administered to patients.
 

Employee protection

Employers are required to protect their workforce who handle cytostatics by appropriate technical and organisational measures and to provide suitable personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes all employees who may come into contact with cytostatics: during goods receipt and preparation, transport, preparation for application and administration as well as disposal.

“The directives, regulations and guidelines currently in use stipulate the use of protective equipment by every employee of a cytostatic department deriving from evaluation of the hazard involved. The PPE must carry the CE mark and must be specified in writing in the hazard evaluation.” - Quality Standard for the Oncology Pharmacy Service, European Society of Oncological Pharmacy, Hamburg 2014.

The greatest hazards arise during preparation of the cytostatics by: dusts (e.g. in the event of defective injection vials containing dry solids), liquids (e.g. on transfer and dispensing of the dissolved substance), aerosol formation (e.g. when dissolving the dry solids) or when containers containing cytostatics are inadvertently dropped.

Product protection

The products too, however, must also be protected from contamination by people, e.g. by skin particles, hair, lint or other particles originating from clothing.  Product integrity and the relevant aseptic procedures and GMP guidelines bear the same weight as personal protective equipment.

DuPont protective clothing - solution for every need

As single-use protective clothing, Tyvek® IsoClean®, Tyvek® and Tychem® ranges of products have the advantage that uncontaminated virgin material with a proven and documented barrier protection provided for each use.

Tyvek® IsoClean®coveralls are designed especially for use in cleanrooms and controlled environments demanding high levels of microbiological protection.

Protective suits made of Tyvek® are also suitable for activities involved in the production of cytostatics and offer different levels of protection depending on hazard type.

Accessories made of Tychem® 2000 C provide additional protection from inorganic chemicals for body parts subjected to high levels of exposure.