Chemo exposure...when to worry

[cyb3rRN]

Ok, so a school buddy and I both jobs at different retirement communities and she was telling me today that she was spit on by a resident that received chemo yesterday (tiny droplet she thinks) So she continued to tell me that she had gloves on, but it was on her arm and she didn't burger to wash it off...theasked if I thought it wa ok. I said I thought it would be.

So comes my mini lightbulb about how little I know about about exposure. Is she really ok? When do you worry when exposed to bodily fluids of a chemo patient? Just trying to educate myself more as I too someday will probably have to care for someone receiving chemo.

[OCNRN63, RN]

I'm curious about chemo, too. I had a patient who had Remicade the night before (on a M/S floor) pee all over the side of the bed and floor, then poop from his shoulders to his knees. We gowned and double gloved to clean him up, but we're not oncology so we don't really know how to handle this stuff. We called our oncology unit, but they weren't very helpful.

Remicade isn't used to treat oncologic disorders, so unless your oncology unit is also doing infusions for arthritis patients, I understand why they may not have been able to help you.

[CharmedJ7]

It really depends on the chemo agent in question. I work in oncology and the general rule is that for 48 hrs after someone received chemo they are considered to be on "chemo precautions." Exactly what that means is somewhat debatable, but gloves are important and extra care is taken when handling fluids (mostly urine and drain output for us) and pregnant or nursing mothers defer care. The half-life of agents different so how long a body fluid may be holding onto a cytotoxic agent varies along with it.

I'm actually more worried about chemo exposure from the bag than the patient, there are some nasty agents out there that can burn your skin or are toxic to breathe in. But generally I don't worry too much about it to be honest unless there's a spill or other large exposure.

[cyb3rRN, ASN, RN]

Thanks for all your responses! Everything is so stressful just starting out and figuring out all the rules and relations, and procedures!