Preliminary hazard analysis applied to outsourcing sterile chemotherapy preparations.

Background Our hospital organization raised the possibilities of outsourcing their sterile pediatric chemotherapy preparations to another hospital conditional on analyzing the potential hazardous events that need to be anticipated. Methods The study was conducted by a multidisciplinary working group from September 2015 to January 2016 with the support of a risk manager. A list of hazardous situations that could occur during outsourcing process was assessed. First, a map of hazardous situations was developed by crossing outsourcing processes divided into phases classified as critical or not. Second, a map of risk was established by crossing potential consequences of these hazardous situations and elaborating corrective actions to reduce the initial risks. Results The map of hazardous situations identified 183 relevant hazardous situations, 78 of which were considered high priority and 154 scenarios were developed. Slightly more than half of these hazardous situations concerned information system (30%), human resources (14%), and management (11%). The generic hazards of information system and human generated 37 (24%) and 41 (27%) scenarios, respectively. To reduce critical risks, 33 corrective actions were proposed. Working time required was estimated at 35 days. The subcontractor personnel for this new organization included an estimated extra time of 0.7-pharmacist working day and 1.4-pharmacy dispenser working day. Conclusions The preliminary hazard analysis method appeared to apply to our system of outsourcing sterile cytotoxic preparations in another hospital. Regardless, this analysis is complex and requires time and expertise.

Erythropoietin prevents dialysis fluid-induced apoptosis of mesothelial cells.

BACKGROUND: In peritoneal dialysis (PD)-treated patients, denudation of the mesothelium correlates with peritoneal fibrosis and vascular changes. Since recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) induces a range of cytoprotective cellular responses, rHuEPO treatment may reduce PD fluid (PDF)-induced damage. METHODS: To investigate the antiapoptotic effect and mechanism of rHuEPO in peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMCs), isolated mice PMCs were used for in vitro characterization of rHuEPO effects. To confirm the in vitro effects, active caspase-3 was analyzed in imprints of liver visceral peritoneum of mice pretreated overnight with rHuEPO (5000 U/kg intraperitoneally) and exposed to PDF (Dianeal 4.25%; Baxter Healthcare, Deerfield, Illinois, USA) for 4 hours. RESULTS: Mouse PMCs expressed EPO-receptor mRNA and protein. Short exposure to rHuEPO (5 U/mL) induced phosphorylation of JAK2, STAT5, and ERK1/2. PMCs pretreated for 1 hour with rHuEPO showed reduced PDF-induced caspase-3 activation (49.6%) and DNA fragmentation (38.4%) in comparison to cells treated by PDF alone (p < 0.05). rHuEPO treatment induced an increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation and reduced levels of PDF-induced phospho-P38. PD98059, a specific inhibitor of ERK activation, fully blocked the protective effect of rHuEPO. In mice, rHuEPO reduced the apoptotic effect of PDF, as assessed by the level of active caspase-3. CONCLUSIONS: Our study presents new insights into clinical use of rHuEPO in the setting of PD. We found that rHuEPO provides ERK1/2-dependent protection to PMCs from PDF-induced apoptosis. The use of rHuEPO, or any of its new derivatives that do not stimulate erythropoiesis, should be considered for peritoneal preservation.