The enzyme toilet rim block 'pCure' does not efficiently remove drug residues in a hospital setting - exemplifying the importance of on-site implementation testing.

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Negative environmental effects of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are increasingly recognized, especially concerning antibiotics, and hospitals are important point sources. "pCure" is a toilet rim block containing API-degrading enzymes; the producing company claims positive in vitro results but no implementation studies have been performed. Materials and methods: In a university hospital setting, 16 weeks were randomized to installation or no installation of pCure in all 261 toilets connected to the same cesspit where sewage water was sampled daily. Ninety-six samples were analyzed for 102 APIs using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Results and Discussion: Fifty-one APIs were detected with a large variation in levels but no signifi

SUBMITTER: Svebrant S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6398360 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature