Smoking at the workplaces in Italy after the smoking ban in the Lazio Region.

BACKGROUND: In Italy, an anti-smoking law was issued in 2003, with the aim of reducing tobacco smoking inside public places. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the observance of the smoking ban in Italy, during the period 2010-2014, in several workplaces and to evaluate the perception of workers, both smokers and non-smokers, on this issue. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed data resulting from a self-administered questionnaires in 59 companies, from several working sectors (transport, healthcare and building), in the Latium Region in Italy. RESULTS: Out of 7200 questionnaires, 6996 were included in the analysis: 43.7% of the employees think that the smoking ban is respected in the workplace; women are more prone to think that the ban is not observed. Smokers tend to perceive the ban to be respected (AOR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.62-0.77) while non-smokers feel more exposed to second-hand smoke (AOR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.39-1.77). Workers in intellectual and highly specialized professions (AOR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.25-2.13), technical professions (AOR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.28-2.10) and craftsmen, skilled workers and farmers (AOR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.09-1.85) tend to perceive the smoking ban not to be observed and the last two classes are the ones who feel the most exposed to second-hand smoke (AOR: 6.68; 95% CI: 0.50-0.90; AOR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.38-0.70). DISCUSSION: The results of this study can be used as a starting point for the implementation of new strategies to reduce tobacco addiction, beginning from the compliance with the ban on smoking in the workplace and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.

{Perception of alcohol problem among workers of the transportation, healthcare and building sectors in the Lazio Region]. / La percezione del problema alcol fra I lavoratori in aziende dei settori trasporti, sanità ed edilizia nella regione Lazio.

AIM: To perform an analysis of the perception of alcohol use among workers of the transportation, healthcare and building sectors. METHODS: A survey was carried out on alcohol consumption and knowledge of deriving health effects. Socio-demographic characteristics of the workers were collected. Risk indexes for habitual alcohol and binge consumption were calculated. RESULTS: The number of workers entering the survey is 3,914 (57% males; 58% married). Two-thirds of the sample reported good knowledge of alcohol-related risks that could occur at the workplace, and 55% of alcohol-related health risks. Binge drinking is inversely associated with female gender, good perceived health and good knowledge of alcohol-related risks at the workplace and of alcohol-related health risks. People who are single, young and working in the building sector show higher odds for binge drinking. The habitual use is positively associated with marital status (OR=1.51 for single) and working sector (in the building sector OR=3.28; in the healthcare OR=1.90); and inversely associated with good health (OR=0.70), good knowledge of alcohol-related risks at the workplace (OR=0.54) and of alcohol-related health risks (OR=0.41). CONCLUSIONS: Socio-demographic factors, such as age, gender and marital status are associated with different patterns of alcohol consumption, that in turn are inversely associated with good knowledge of alcohol-related risks at the workplace and of alcohol-related health risks. These results suggest the need to increase knowledge of alcohol-related issues among the workers, both at the workplace and in everyday life.

Appropriateness of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis in the Latium region of Italy, 2008: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: There is still wide variability in surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) practice by different surgical teams and specialties, with potential impact on adverse events and the emergence of antibiotic resistance. METHODS: We assessed SAP appropriateness in a regional prospective multicenter study on the basis of the agreement of the Surgical Care Improvement Project indicators (SCIP-Inf) with Italian guidelines (GL). RESULTS: Prophylaxis was administered in 2,664 of 2,835 procedures (94%): In 2,346 of 2,468 (95%) as indicated and in 318 of 367 (86.6%) in which they were not indicated. The SCIP-Inf1 (timing), SCIP-Inf2 (antibiotic choice), and SCIP-Inf3 (duration) were in agreement with GL in 1,172 (50%), 1,983 (84.5%), and 1,121 (48%) of 2,346 procedures, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the need for implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship program in this surgical setting.

Influenza A (H1N1) in Rome, Italy in family: three case reports.

INTRODUCTION: A new Influenza A virus H1N1 appeared in March-April 2009, and thousands of cases are being reported worldwide. In the initial months, several imported cases were reported in many European countries, while some countries reported local chains of transmission. We describe the first cluster of in-country transmission of the new Influenza A H1N1 which occurred in Italy, involving 3 patients. CASE PRESENTATION: Patient 1, a 11-year-old male child developed fever, cough, and general malaise 4 days after returning from a travel to Mexico. Some days later, the 69-year-old grandfather (patient 2), who did not travel to Mexico, and the 33-month-old brother (patient 3) of patient 1 developed mild influenza symptoms. PCR tests resulted positive for Influenza A, and sequence analysis confirmed infection with the Influenza A (H1N1) strain for all three patients. Some problems were experienced in the administration of chemoprophylaxis and therapy in the patient 3. The chemoprophylaxis policies in other family members are described, too. CONCLUSION: Some interesting facts emerge from the analysis of this cluster. The transmission of Influenza A H1N1 virus seems to be dependent on strict contacts. Patient 2 and patient 3 did not take the chemoprophylaxis properly. The problems in the administration of chemoprophylaxis and therapy to patient 3 suggest that in infants specific individual-based strategies for assuring the correct administration are advisable.