Environmental impact of percutaneous core-needle breast biopsy in 101 Senonetwork Italian breast cancer centers

As data about the environmental sustainability of core-needle breast biopsy are lacking, this study aims to investigate current practices regarding materials usage, waste generation, and pre-procedural and procedural variability.

A panel of five breast imaging experts developed a 56-item online questionnaire, distributed from February 20 to March 31, 2024, to members of APS Senonetwork Italia. The questionnaire explored materials usage for core-needle breast biopsy during all pre-procedural and procedural steps. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

A total of 176 responses from 101 centers were received, with 135 respondents actively performing core-needle breast biopsies. The study revealed substantial variability in sterility practices, with only 0.7% (1/135) of respondents meeting all sterility criteria. While many centers used sterile materials, their application was inconsistent, leading to suboptimal sterility and excessive waste. The most frequently used materials included sterile gloves (56.3%), sterile drapes (34.8%), and probe covers (37.5%). However, only 5.9% of respondents used sterile gowns, and 9.0% used sterile caps. Post-procedural infection rates were reported as uncommon, with 86.7% of respondents never or rarely encountering infections. Additionally, after completing the biopsy, 66.7% of respondents discarded both used and unused materials, contributing to biomedical waste.

This study highlights the potential for materials usage optimization and waste reduction in core-needle breast biopsy across centers affiliated with APS Senonetwork Italia. As infectious complications were most frequently reported as rare or absent, minimization of unnecessary use of sterile and non-sterile materials could contribute to sustainable healthcare practices while maintaining high-quality patient care.