The Occupational and Environmental Hazards of Uncovered Toilets
Seth Eisenberg1, AnnMarie Walton, Thomas Harry Connor
1Seth Eisenberg is an oncology nursing consultant and the former professional practice coordinator of infusion services at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle. AnnMarie Walton is an associate professor at the Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC. Thomas Harry Connor is a retired hazardous drug researcher for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and a former associate professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Contact author: Thomas Harry Connor, tconnor1@cinci.rr.com . The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Abstract:
Substantial evidence demonstrates that plumes from uncovered toilets potentially expose nurses and other health care workers to aerosols containing infectious agents and hazardous drugs, including antineoplastic drugs. Most hospitals in the United States utilize flushometer-type toilets, which operate under high pressure and do not have a permanently attached closure or lid, which is known to reduce the aerosols generated by flushing. This article aims to raise awareness among nurses of the potential exposure risks associated with toilet plume aerosols, so they can educate other health care workers and take part in initiatives to address these risks.
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