How I Revolutionized Hospital Safety: The Splashblocker

During my nearly two decades as an oncology nurse, I became deeply committed to improving patient and worker safety. One particular overlooked danger caught my attention—bathroom safety. Addressing this risk led me down an unexpected path—one that would redefine my career and drive me to find a solution: enter the Splashblocker.

The Hidden Risk in Hospital Bathrooms: Toilet Plume Aerosols

Chemotherapy remains in a patient’s system for 48–72 hours and is present in bodily fluids. As an oncology nurse, I often had to dispose of patient waste containing these hazardous drugs. While we could wear PPE during disposal, every flush released tiny particles called Toilet Plume Aerosols (TPAs) into the air. 

These aerosols containing hazardous drugs can remain suspended for hours, land on surfaces, and be inhaled. Studies have detected chemotherapy drugs in nurses' urine, strongly suggesting TPAs as a source of exposure. This is a serious concern, as these drugs are designed to kill rapidly dividing cells, and unintended exposure can have significant health consequences.

Beyond hazardous drugs, TPAs can also harbor dangerous pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, influenza, norovirus, Legionella, and C. difficile. A recent study found adenovirus present on 78% of surfaces and in 81% of air samples in clinical settings. More than 25% of post-flush surface samples tested positive for Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), a highly contagious and potentially deadly pathogen. These findings underscore the critical need for effective TPA containment.

The Inefficiency of Conventional Toilet Lids and Disposable Covers

The Oncology Nursing Society recommends covering the toilet because most hazardous drugs are excreted in urine and stool. However, most hospitals do not have toilet lids, and even when they do, research demonstrates their inefficiency in blocking TPAs. Studies have shown that even with the lid closed, a significant amount of aerosolized particles can escape due to the gaps between the lid, seat, and bowl.

Hospitals face a costly dilemma when it comes to infection control in restrooms. Many rely on single-use, plastic-backed pads for toilet hygiene, but these seemingly simple solutions come with significant drawbacks, including a substantial financial burden.

An 80-bed hospital can easily spend over $100,000 annually on these pads. This hefty price tag includes not only the cost of the pads themselves but also the ever-increasing fees for landfill disposal. And the environmental impact is alarming, with a single hospital generating over 4 tons of landfill waste each year from these pads alone.

But the problems don't stop there.  These pads pose a significant risk to plumbing systems. The high-velocity flush systems common in hospitals can easily suck these pads into the pipes, leading to costly plumbing repairs and lost revenue from blocked patient rooms. In short, single-use plastic-backed pads are an unreliable, expensive, and environmentally unsustainable solution for hospitals.

From Nurse to Innovator: The Birth of Splashblocker

After earning my ADN from the Community College of Philadelphia (1999) and working at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Warminster Hospital, I specialized in oncology at Temple University Hospital's Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. Over my 18-year nursing career, I earned my BSN and certifications in Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, gaining firsthand experience with the risks of TPAs. 

In 2015, I invented Splashblocker to address this issue. My invention earned me a spot in the finals of the Start-Me Up Challenge at Bucks County Community College, where I connected with investor Bill Borchert. Together, we formed a team to bring Splashblocker to hospitals nationwide.

Splashblocker: A Scientifically Proven Solution

 A 2024 multi-center study across 15 hospitals and 145 patient bathrooms, published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, confirmed Splashblocker's effectiveness. This landmark study, "Reducing the Particles Generated by Flushing Institutional Toilets. Part II: Assessing a Portable and Reusable Toilet Cover in U.S. Hospitals," demonstrated a 99.98% reduction in harmful TPAs (p-value: 0.0002). 

This remarkable reduction offers significant protection for healthcare workers and patients, providing a scientifically proven solution to a long-overlooked problem. Splashblocker is a sustainable and cost-effective alternative, as it's reusable and easy to clean. Beyond oncology units, any setting where infection control is crucial—ICUs, surgical recovery, long-term care—can benefit from Splashblocker's ability to significantly reduce hazardous drug exposure and the spread of infectious diseases.

A Mission to Improve Patient and Worker Safety

Today, hospitals nationwide are beginning to use Splashblocker, but my mission is just getting started. My team and I are working to educate hospital executives about the dangers of TPAs and advocate for better safety measures.

We also offer CEU credits through a webinar course titled "Protecting Oncology Nurses from Toilet Plumes Containing Hazardous Drugs" and through The Leapfrog Group, “Protecting Healthcare Workers and Patients from Toilet Plume with Hazardous Pathogens and Drugs.” Nurses are the heart of healthcare systems, and it feels great to continue playing a role in protecting both patients and fellow healthcare workers. We are committed to making the Splashblocker the standard of care in hospitals and other healthcare settings and raising awareness about this significant, critical, yet often ignored, health hazard.