Cytotoxic Medications and Related Waste Management in Aged Care

Wednesday 15 October 2025, 2.00PM AEDT

*Due to unforeseen circumstances, this month’s webinar topic has changed. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Cytotoxic Medications and Related Waste Management in Aged Care

Speaker: Carrie Spinks, ACIPC IPC Consultant

Cytotoxic medications are increasingly prescribed in aged care as their use expands across a wide range of diseases. While essential for treatment, these medicines can pose risks to staff through exposure during medication administration, as well as contact with body fluids and contaminated items such as waste, laundry, or equipment. Effective management of these risks is critical to protecting staff.

This presentation provides an overview of cytotoxic agents, exposure pathways, and safe work practices to minimise risk in aged care settings. Topics include correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), segregation and disposal of contaminated waste, contaminated laundry handling, and effective cleaning and spill management procedures. We will also cover the safe collection of cytotoxic specimens, and the documentation processes that support accountability and compliance.

The session equips aged care staff with practical, evidence-based strategies to handle cytotoxic medications and related waste while ensuring staff safety and high-quality resident care.

About the speaker: Carrie is an experienced Infection Control Consultant, specialising in developing infection control programs within the aged care setting. Carrie has a Science Degree – Nursing, Master of Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Master of Advanced Practice – Infection Control; along with further post graduate qualifications in Chemotherapy, Gastroenterology/Endoscopy, Genetics, Immunisation, Cert IC Training and Assessment. After graduating and obtaining nursing experience in Australia, Carrie moved to the UK and became a Nurse Practitioner on return to Australia 9 years later she found her passion for aged care management and quality and in 2014 specialised in Infection Control in the industry. Carrie has presented locally, nationally and overseas, she has published, became one of the first Nurse Endoscopists, and enjoyed making film clips in health care. Carrie is particularly interested in the development and establishment of infection control programs, resources and education within the aged care setting. Antimicrobial Stewardship is also close to Carrie’s heart.

To view the webinar recording, please click the image below:

Webinar PowerPoint Resources

Cytotoxic medication and related waste management – https://www.acipc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Cytotoxic-medication-and-related-waste-management.pdf

Reference:

eviQ – Hazardous drugs table: https://www.eviq.org.au/clinical-resources/administration-of-anti-cancer-drugs/909-hazardous-drugs-table?utm_source=chatgpt.com#hazardous-drugs-tables