A novel approach for evaluating the containment of a closed intravenous administration system for hazardous drugs

Oncology nurses are routinely exposed to antineoplastic agents through skin absorption or inhalation of airborne agents when administering drugs intravenously. Although safe infusion devices aimed at preventing the hazardous disconnection of empty bags were developed, none of them are completely closed systems per National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) guidelines. The authors evaluated a closed system administration device developed to prevent exposure of healthcare professionals to cytotoxic drugs during their administration. System components were assembled in various scenarios mimicking intravenous drug administration and then tested in a sealed chamber connected to a gas analyzer. The concentration of 70% isopropanol vapors (as a drug surrogate) was measured continuously in the chamber. The analysis showed no detectable increase in isopropanol vapor concentration in the sealed chamber compared to baseline levels over the course of the tasks, indicating that no leaks of 70% isopropanol occurred when the closed system administration devices were used. Furthermore, the results remained the same regardless of the number of connection cycles the products had undergone, or whether they were newly manufactured or at the simulated end of their shelf-life. This study showed that the use of a closed administration system can minimize the risk of exposure of healthcare professionals to hazardous drugs and potentially reduce environmental contamination.