Protection of doctors in a suburban Nigerian teaching hospital against exposure to cytotoxic drugs

Abstract

Cytotoxic drugs (CDs) are used commonly in the management of malignant diseases; they act by inhibiting growth and kill actively growing cells. Health workers may be exposed to CDs in the course of their duties; exposure is associated with mutagenesis and other health problems. To determine the amount of protection available to doctors working in a suburban tertiary hospital in Nigeria, a cross-sectional study of resident doctors was carried out, using a pre-tested, structured, self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire dealt with the demographic characteristics of the respondents, protective devices available, if they were adequate or not; exposure to CDs over the previous 6 months, mode of exposure and action taken following exposure.

Questions were also asked about any training offered to doctors before they began administering CDs. Latex gloves were the most common protective equipment available. No respondent used respirators or eye protection, 76.3% said the protective equipments were inadequate while 78.9% did not receive any training. Fifteen (39.5%) of respondents had at least one incidence of exposure in the previous 6 months, house officers were more frequently exposed. Protection offered doctors against exposure to CDs is inadequate; equipment provided are insufficient and training on how to handle CDs is almost non-existent. Ways of alleviating these problems are suggested.