OD-04. Benefits of centralized preparation of cytostatic drugs

Summary

Chemotherapy of malignancies implies clinical usage of medical drugs which hamper growth or cause irreversible damage to the tumor cells. Effects of cytostatic drugs are directed for destruction of rapidly dividing cells. Therefore, their action affects both cancer cells, but also normal actively proliferating cells. There are different classes of antitumor drugs which exert various action upon the cells at different stages of their dividion and replication. Combination of several cytostatics affecting different cell cycle stages causes destruction of most cancer cells. With advent of polychemotherapy, the questions arised with preparation (dilution) of cytostatic drugs under the conditions providing safety for medical staff contacting with them, and for the patients.

Materials and methods

Arrangement of the unit for centralized cytostatic drug preparation for all the departments of oncological profile is the optimal solution. The benefits of such approach to handling with cytostatics are as follows: simplier arrangement of protective measures for minimization of harmful cytostatic drug effects upon medical staff; higher safety for the patients, i.e., control of chemotherapy by the specialists at different levels, and guarantees for aseptic conditions; lower costs of chemotherapy for the entire clinics. Currently, such a unit functions at the Republican Research and Practical Center of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology (Republic of Belarus).

Results

Solutions of cytostatic drugs are prepared by medical nurses according to the requirements from clinical pharmacologists and provisor, with respect to all the necessary regulations and taking into account specific preparation rules for each drug. Safe handling of anticancer drugs presumes proper usage of individual protection tools. Appropriate tools should be used at all steps of handling with such drugs, including their preparation, injections and utilization as well as when handling biological fluids of the patients following recently performed chemotherapy.

Conclusion

Arrangement of special unit for centralized dilution of cytostatic drugs for all departments at the oncology clinics is the optimal solution for the protection of personnel and rational processing of anticancer medical drugs.

Keywords

Chemotherapy, cytostatic medical drugs, centralized dilution, protective measures, laminar air-flow boxes, safety.