Occupational Contamination with Cyclophosphamide in Manipulators

Cyclophosphamide is a cytotoxic widely used in the treatment of various cancers. It has been observed, for many years, that those responsible for its handling and administration are exposed and levels of contamination have been detected in biological samples collected from these professionals, in surfaces and in the air. Objectives To review the literature on occupational contamination by cyclophosphamide. Methodology The following inclusion criteria were selected: articles published until the present year, articles in English, scientific papers on cyclophosphamide contamination in hospital health professionals, scientific articles on contamination detection methods and articles on the effects that can outcome from cyclophosphamide contamination. Results The cyclophosphamide levels have been decreasing with the implementation of preparation and cleaning guidelines as well as with the emergence of new techniques of manipulation and technological innovations. However, the dermal route remains the main route of contamination and those responsible for cytotoxic manipulation are not the only ones exposed. It was verified that hospital professionals, who in their profession would not be in contact with cyclophosphamide, also presented levels of contamination in the collected urine samples. Conclusion It is necessary to continue to alert hospital professionals to the importance of always complying with the handling and cleaning protocols, since one of the main causes of contamination is precisely the performance of incorrect procedures during both tasks. This is a topic that should be further studied in order to minimize the exposure and consequently the associated risks.