الفهرس 
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Abstract
CDs are a drug treatment that uses powerful agents to kill rapidly growing cells in the body. CDs are often used to treat cancer, as cancer cells multiply more rapidly than other cells in the body. Many different types of CDs are available. CDs can be used alone or with other drugs to treat cancers. Although CD is an effective method for treating different types of cancer, it also carries risks for patients and HCWs, especially when handled incorrectly. Some dangerous effects of CDs are mild and treatable, while some may cause risky complications.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the handling of cytotoxic drugs in pediatric hematology/oncology unit and potential exposure risk to cytotoxic drugs and in addition to evaluate hand flora of HCWs.
This study is a cross sectional study carried on HCWs handled cytotoxic drugs in pediatric hematology/oncology unit at Tanta University hospitals. All nurses subjected to organized questionnaire about sociodemographic data, occupational history and their information about CDs. A performance checklist was used to assess the practices of nurses and housekeepers in addition hand prints that were also used to assess hand flora of HCWs.
Regarding patient care, all nurses (100%) did not protect the skin of patients from their excreta by cleaning with soap; water and applying barrier cream to the perineal area. All HCWs (100%) did not follow guidelines during pre-administration, administration and post administration stages. All HCWs did not follow any guidelines regarding risk behaviors during handling of CDs, similarly waste disposal, excreta management and spill management guidelines were not applied by dedicated workers. All HCWs did not receive any training about handling of CDs. Concerning risk exposure assessment, none of the HCWs experienced any of the well-known experienced exposure effects (rash, allergic reaction, abdominal pain, hair loss, nausea, dizziness, skin-eye injury, reproductive harm (abortion), headache, loss of weight and diarrhea).However only (9.1%) suffered from nausea of unknown cause, (27.3%) from URTIs symptoms and (18.2%) from headache. Decontamination efficacy was evaluated by hand print technique and according to the total bacterial load detected it was found that 54.5%, 25% and 0% of nurses, clinical pharmacies, and housekeepers had excellent performance regarding hand hygiene. Moreover 50%, 25% and 9.1% of house keepers, clinical pharmacists and nurses had very bad performance of hand hygiene respectively.