Assessing Flucloxacillin Contamination and Decontamination—A Laboratory Study

Abstract

ABSTRACTBackgroundFlucloxacillin is a widely used antibiotic but data are lacking on the risks associated with occupational exposure.AimTo evaluate flucloxacillin stability; to identify an effective decontamination reagent for flucloxacillin; and to identify glove material that will prevent flucloxacillin permeation.MethodDecontamination reagents used for flucloxacillin wipe sampling and degradation/stability tests included: isopropanol 50% and 70%, ethanol 60% and 100%, benzalkonium chloride 0.1% (Pine O Cleen), sodium hypochlorite 0.5% (Chloroclens), sodium hydroxide 0.03M and distilled water. Short‐term (0 to 90 minutes) and daily degradation (0 to 6 days) of flucloxacillin in these media and flucloxacillin recovery from surface wipe sampling was investigated using high pressure liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Flucloxacillin permeation was tested using disposable, powder‐free latex and nitrile gloves in a disposable test cell to which solution was applied on one side of the glove material and wiped from the other side after 3 hours.ResultsThis analytical method for assessing flucloxacillin contamination has a limit of detection of 0.1 μg/mL. Distilled water was the most suitable solvent as degradation of flucloxacillin was minimal. Sodium hypochlorite 0.5%, followed by sodium hydroxide 0.03M and benzalkonium chloride 0.1%, were the most effective decontamination reagents. No permeation of flucloxacillin was detected through the latex or nitrile gloves after a 3 hour period.ConclusionA method for assessing occupational exposure to flucloxacillin is described in this paper. Sodium hypochlorite 0.5% was the most effective decontamination reagent for flucloxacillin. Both the latex and nitrile gloves prevented flucloxacillin permeation for up to 3 hours.