Cytotoxic Precautions
During Your
Hospital Stay
2009
Looking for more health information?
Contact your local public library for books, videos, magazine articles and online health information. For a list of public libraries in Nova Scotia go to HTTP://publiclibraries.ns.ca
Capital Health promotes a smoke-free and scent-free environment. Please do not use perfumed products. Thank you!
Capital Health, Nova Scotia www.cdha.nshealth.ca
Cytotoxic Precautions
During Your Hospital Stay
What are Cytotoxic Precautions?
You have been given a medication called ______________ to treat ________________________. This medication is cytotoxic (pronounced - sigh toe tock’ sick). 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. Your medication or body fluids must not come in contact with other people.
Cytotoxic precautions are the ways that your health care team protects themselves from cytotoxic medications or body wastes.
Cytotoxic precautions are used for the safety of those around you. 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 wastes. Casual contact like hugging, kissing and touching are all safe. You do not need to be in a room by yourself.
Your health care team wants to make your hospital stay as comfortable as possible so please speak to them if you have any questions about cytotoxic precautions. Care must be taken with other items that may have your
body fluids on them. These items should be handled using cytotoxic precautions:
- dressings/bandages - diapers - pads - drainage tubes - ostomy supplies - soiled linen - soiled clothing - tissues
If you are wearing your own clothes or using your own linen, the nurse will show your partner or family how to wash them at home.
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 partner 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.
How long will I be on Cytotoxic Precautions?
You will need to be on precautions while you are taking the medication and for 48 hours after you finish your medication.
How does the medication leave my body?
Your body breaks down the medication. Most of it leaves your body in your urine and bowel movements. Your body fluids are considered cytotoxic or harmful when there is medication in it. Some other body fluids that may have small amounts of the medication include blood, phlegm, sweat, semen, vaginal fluid, vomit, saliva and other discharges from the body
What protective equipment will my health
care team use?
Cytotoxic medication or wastes can get inside another person’s body through the skin, mouth or by breathing it in. Your health care team may use the following
equipment to look after you:
~ Special gowns that will keep splashes from soaking through to clothes.
~ Gloves so that they will not touch medication or wastes with bare hands.
~ 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, IV tubing and another for pads and tissues and other waste.
~ Special clean up kits for big spills.
The nurse will use all or some of the above equipment regardless of how you take your medication. If you are getting your medication through an intravenous, let your nurse know if it is not running well.
The nurse told me that my body waste had
to be handled carefully. What does this
mean?
A large amount of medication leaves your body in your urine and bowel movements. 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. This is very important if you are sharing a bathroom. If you use a commode, the nursing staff will clean it with a special soap while you are on cytotoxic precautions. Let your nurse know if you spill a bedpan or urinal.
How long will I be on Cytotoxic Precautions?
You will need to be on precautions while you are taking the medication and for 48 hours after you finish your medication.
How does the medication leave my body?
Your body breaks down the medication. Most of it leaves your body in your urine and bowel movements. Your body fluids are considered cytotoxic or harmful when there is medication in it. Some other body fluids that may have small amounts of the medication include blood, phlegm, sweat, semen, vaginal fluid, vomit, saliva and other discharges from the body
What protective equipment will my health
care team use?
Cytotoxic medication or wastes can get inside another person’s body through the skin, mouth or by breathing it in. Your health care team may use the following
equipment to look after you:
~ Special gowns that will keep splashes from soaking through to clothes.
~ Gloves so that they will not touch medication or wastes with bare hands.
~ 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, IV tubing and another for pads and tissues and other waste.
~ Special clean up kits for big spills.
The nurse will use all or some of the above equipment regardless of how you take your medication. If you are getting your medication through an intravenous, let your nurse know if it is not running well.
The nurse told me that my body waste had
to be handled carefully. What does this
mean?
A large amount of medication leaves your body in your urine and bowel movements. 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. This is very important if you are sharing a bathroom. If you use a commode, the nursing staff will clean it with a special soap while you are on cytotoxic precautions. Let your nurse know if you spill a bedpan or urinal.
Cytotoxic Precautions
During Your Hospital Stay
What are Cytotoxic Precautions?
You have been given a medication called ______________ to treat ________________________. This medication is cytotoxic (pronounced - sigh toe tock’ sick). 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. Your medication or body fluids must not come in contact with other people.
Cytotoxic precautions are the ways that your health care team protects themselves from cytotoxic medications or body wastes.
Cytotoxic precautions are used for the safety of those around you. 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 wastes. Casual contact like hugging, kissing and touching are all safe. You do not need to be in a room by yourself.
Your health care team wants to make your hospital stay as comfortable as possible so please speak to them if you have any questions about cytotoxic precautions. Care must be taken with other items that may have your
body fluids on them. These items should be handled using cytotoxic precautions:
- dressings/bandages - diapers - pads - drainage tubes - ostomy supplies - soiled linen - soiled clothing - tissues
If you are wearing your own clothes or using your own linen, the nurse will show your partner or family how to wash them at home.
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 partner 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.
Cytotoxic Precautions
During Your
Hospital Stay
2009
Looking for more health information?
Contact your local public library for books, videos, magazine articles and online health information. For a list of public libraries in Nova Scotia go to HTTP://publiclibraries.ns.ca
Capital Health promotes a smoke-free and scent-free environment. Please do not use perfumed products. Thank you!
Capital Health, Nova Scotia www.cdha.nshealth.ca
