The aim of the present study was to compare contamination by 5-FU between a conventional mixing method of a portable disposable infuser pump using an ampule form of 5-FU and a mixing method of an infuser pump using a vial form of 5-FU. The pharmacist handled 5-FU on the stainless steel tray in the biological safety cabinet. Wipe samples of the stainless steel tray and glove samples from the pharmacist were collected. Then the mixing operation was timed by stop-watch.
When the pharmacist prepared the infuser pump with ample form of 5-FU, the median 5-FU concentration from wipe samples was 33 μg. When the pharmacist prepared the infuser pump with the vial form of 5-FU, the median 5-FU contamination from wipe samples was lower than the quantification limit. Use of the vial form of 5-FU significantly reduced the surface contamination from wipe samples (p=0.003, Mann-Whitney's U-test). The median mixing operation time was also significantly reduced by using the vial form of 5-FU (347 sec and 169 sec, p<0.001, Mann-Whitney's U-test). Based on these results, we concluded that the vial form of 5-FU can reduce contamination in a hospital work environment, and increase the efficiency of mixing operation.