CARE OF A PATIENT RECEIVING CYTOTOXIC CHEMOTHERAPY

Cytotoxic therapy is the use of drugs to kill cells.  The drugs and their metabolites are excreted by the body many in an unchanged form.  The drugs may be given intravenously or in tablet form.  The main organs of excretion are the liver and kidneys.

These patients and their bodily fluids are considered a potential hazard for 48 hours after the cessation of the administration of cytotoxic therapy.

The following simple precautions should be used when handling the bodily fluids or excreta of patients who have had cytotoxic therapy.

q       The patient should be instructed to flush the toilet twice after use.

q       Staff handling any bodily fluids for the 48 hours should wear gloves and a plastic apron 

q       If urine or vomit is spilt, then the procedure for a solution spillage clean up must be followed.

q       All pathology specimens taken in the 48 hour period must be placed in plastic bags and labelled as cytotoxic.

q       All IV infusion bags, syringes and giving sets that have been used for the administration of cytotoxic drugs must be disposed of in a sharps bin labelled as containing cytotoxic waste 

q       Nursing care appropriate to the regime of treatment given needs to be instituted 

                        Regular Antiemetic Therapy.

                        Regular monitoring of full blood count.

                        Observation for infection if white blood count becomes low.

                        Regular mouth care with normal saline mouthwashes if white count becomes low.

                        Education of the patient about side effects of therapy.