Download Cytotoxic Precautions During Your Hospital Stay

Patient & Family Guide
2016
Cytotoxic
Precautions
During Your
Hospital Stay
www.nshealth.ca
Cytotoxic Precautions During
Your Hospital Stay
You have been given a medication called
.
This drug is cytotoxic. This means it is harmful to
the cells in the body. Although your medication
will help you, it could cause problems for
anyone who does not need it.
This booklet describes what you and your
family, friends, and caregivers need to know
about cytotoxic precautions.
These precautions are used to keep your family
members, friends, and caregivers safe while you
are taking a cytotoxic medication.
If you have any questions, please ask.
We are here to help you.
1
What are cytotoxic precautions?
Cytotoxic precautions are used for the safety
of those around you. Cytotoxic precautions are
the ways that your healthcare team protects
themselves from cytotoxic medications or body
wastes.
Although the risk of harm may be very low, it is
important to be careful. These precautions are
only needed when handling your medication or
body fluids.
Casual contact like hugging, kissing, and
touching are safe.
Family, friends, or caregivers who are pregnant,
breastfeeding, or trying to get pregnant can be
near you. They should use extra care to avoid
contact with your medication or body fluids.
You do not need to be in a room by yourself.
2
How long do I need to follow cytotoxic
precautions?
Your nurse will tell you exactly how long to
follow cytotoxic precautions. Generally, you
should follow cytotoxic precautions while you
are taking cytotoxic medication and for at least
48 hours after you finish the medication.
If you stay in hospital following chemotherapy,
the nurses may continue the precautions for 7
days.
How does the medication leave my body?
Your body breaks down the medication. Most of
it leaves your body in your urine (pee) and bowel
movements. Your body fluids are considered
cytotoxic or harmful when there is medication
in them. Other body fluids that may have small
amounts of the medication include blood,
phlegm, sweat, semen, vaginal fluid, vomit, and
saliva (spit).
3
How do I take care of my body wastes?
You must be very careful when you use the
toilet. Before you flush the toilet, put the lid
down or cover it with a blue pad. Wash your
hands well.
If you use a bedpan, urinal, or commode,
the nursing staff will use precautions when
emptying the waste.
If you do not have control of your bladder or
bowels and use disposable diapers or pads to
absorb urine or bowel movements, tell your
nurse when they are soiled. They should be
changed right away and your skin should be
washed to avoid irritation.
Care must be taken with other items that
may have your body fluids on them, such as
dressings, bandages, drainage tubes, and
tissues.
4
What protective equipment will my
healthcare team use?
Your healthcare team may use the following
equipment when caring for you:
• Gloves so that they will not touch medication
or wastes with bare hands.
• Special gowns that will keep splashes from
soaking through to clothes.
• Masks in case there is a chance of breathing in
cytotoxic medication.
• Goggles to stop splashes from getting into the
eyes.
• Special waste containers – one for sharp
equipment and IV tubing and another for
pads, tissues, and other waste.
My family likes to help with my care while
I am in the hospital. What do they need to
know?
The nurse will teach your family or caregiver
how to help with your care using cytotoxic
precautions. If needed, the nurse will teach your
family how to help with your care after you go
home.
5
What about laundry?
If you are wearing your own clothes or using
your own linen in hospital, you do not have to
wash your clothes separately unless they are
soiled with body fluids.
Your caregiver should wear gloves when
handling laundry soiled with your body fluids.
Wash soiled laundry in a load separate from
other family members’ laundry.
Looking for more health information?
This pamphlet and all our active patient pamphlets are searchable here:
http://bit.ly/NSHApamphlets
Contact your local public library for books, videos, magazines, and other resources.
For more information go to http://library.novascotia.ca
Nova Scotia Health Authority promotes a smoke-free, vape-free, and scent-free environment.
Please do not use perfumed products. Thank you!
Nova Scotia Health Authority
www.nshealth.ca
Prepared by: The Working Group for the Care of Patients Receiving Cytotoxic Drugs for Non-Cancer
Purposes©
Revised by: Angela Whynot, CNE
Reviewed by: 8A Nursing staff
Designed by: Nova Scotia Health Authority, Central Zone Patient Education Team
Printed by: Dalhousie University Print Centre
The information in this brochure is for informational and educational purposes only.
The information is not intended to be and does not constitute healthcare or medical advice.
If you have any questions, please ask your healthcare provider.
QV85-0683 Updated August 2016
The information in this pamphlet is to be updated every 3 years or as needed.