[ RadSafe ] Nuc Med pt x-contamination of other people

[North, David]

I did an investigation of the cross-contamination of household members after
patients were sent home following large doses of I-131 for metastatic
thyroid cancer. I counted the thyroids of 43 people and 7 dogs living with
the patients. Three people and four dogs were positive at the level of about
1/10000 of the administered doses. Most of the dogs were licking the
patients, I think. A couple were definitely too small to drink out of the
toilets! (I submitted this to Health Physics for publication, was asked to
revise it a bit, and then I got REALLY busy clinically. So, I will probably
have to submit it all over again when I can get back to it.)

Anyway, it does happen occasionally, but doesn't seem to involve a lot of
activity.

David L. North, Sc.M., DABR
Associate Physicist
Main Building, Rm 317
Rhode Island Hospital
593 Eddy St.
Providence, RI 02903
w: (401)444-5961
f: (401) 444-4446
dnorth at lifespan.org






On 12/2/11 9:59 AM, "Rees, Brian G" <brees at lanl.gov> wrote:

> Sandy,
> 
> I'm aware of Pt.s contaminating their environs, but am looking for instances
> of other people becoming contaminated as a result.  As an example I was told
> of a person whose shoe was contaminated, it was traced back to a urine
> drop/splatter at a urinal.
> 
> Thanks,
> Brian 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
> [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Perle, Sandy
> Sent: Friday, December 02, 2011 9:47 AM
> To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Nuc Med pt x-contamination of other people
> 
> Brian, certainly. For example, I had a radioiodine thyroid ablation procedure
> end of August. One of the release of the I-131 is through perspiration as well
> as other body eliminations. Simply touching an item (furniture, computer
> keyboard or person) will cause contamination on the item or person. In my
> case, no matter what you do to minimize contamination, it can't be totally
> eliminated. My keyboard was contaminated (not significantly) but someone just
> touching the keyboard does and did transfer some of the contamination. Again,
> not significant, but it does and can occur.
> 
> Hope this answers your question.
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Sandy
> 
> -----------------------------------
> Sander C. Perle 
> President
> Mirion Technologies
> Dosimetry Services Division 
> 2652 McGaw Avenue
> Irvine, CA 92614
>  
> +1 (949) 296-2306 (Office)
> +1 (949) 296-1130 (Fax)
>  
> Mirion Technologies: http://www.mirion.com/
> "Protecting people, property and the environment"
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
> [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Rees, Brian G
> Sent: Friday, December 02, 2011 5:55 AM
> To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
> Subject: [ RadSafe ] Nuc Med pt x-contamination of other people
> 
> Is there any documented instances of a nuclear medicine patient
> cross-contaminating another person?  I'm even interested in anecdotal cases!
> 
> I promise I won't try to promote and market pills to protect anyone from such
> events!
> 
> Thanks,
> Brian Rees
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