Reply To: Dedicated sling for MRO/ Cytotoxic residents in aged care

Hi Monika

In response to the cytotoxic management. Hoping some colleagues will have a go at answering the MRO for you.

The risk of cytotoxic exposure is only presented through the body substances of a person on cytotoxic medications – or the medication its-self (and meds would not be given during transfer). It is not a transmissible risk, but an exposure risk. If the person’s body substances – blood, urine, faeces, vomit are contained, (e.g. person is continent, wears incontinence aids, not vomiting, oozing wounds managed) then there is minimal risk to the sling lifter being cytotoxic contaminated and presenting risk. Any special / additional precautions outside routine reprocessing of shared equipment, would not be required.

It’s similar to cytotoxic laundry management – i.e. where there are no body substances – there is minimal risk – the laundering would be undertaken as general laundry.

In the instance that body substances did contaminate the sling it would need to be managed as cytotoxic laundering (contained in soluble laundry bag and on appropriate wash cycle) and washed ASAP. Cytotoxic exposure risks should be void post this laundering process, enabling shared reuse.

The decision to have dedicated slings for residents is ultimatley the organisations – a measure with the aim to minimise risk.

Hope that helps

Regards Carrie