Evaluation of personal protective equipment use in healthcare workers exposed to ionizing radiation in a Portuguese university hospital.

Introduction: Increasing use of ionizing radiation in hospitals exposes healthcare workers to health risks, therefore dosimetric surveillance and anti-radiation personal protective equipment are essential. However, low perception of risk has a negative impact on compliance. Objectives: To qualitatively characterize exposure to ionizing radiation and the compliance with anti-radiation personal protective equipment and personal dosimeters by workers, at a university hospital in Portugal. To investigate the impact of attending health examinations or participating in training activities on this compliance. Methods: Cross-sectional study design administering a questionnaire constructed by the authors to all healthcare workers exposed to ionizing radiation (n = 708). Results: A total of 295 workers completed the questionnaire. They worked in 16 different services using eight different types of ionizing radiation-emitting equipment, the most common of which were fluoroscopes. Lead aprons and thyroid protectors were the anti-radiation personal protective equipment with greatest compliance (61.7 and 55.6%, respectively), while fewer respondents used protective glasses (8.1%) and lead gloves (0.7%). Regular use of a dosimeter was reported by 78.3% of workers and use was associated with participation in training and with attending health examinations. The most frequent reasons given for not wearing anti-radiation personal protective equipment were unavailability (glasses and gloves), presence of a protective barrier, and discomfort. The most common reason for not using a dosimeter was forgetting to do so. Conclusions: Workers who attended training and those who attended health examinations were more compliant with use of dosimeters, indicating that these are useful strategies for improving workers' compliance with radiation protection measures.

Evaluación de la respuesta inmunológica a tres dosis de la vacuna contra la Hepatitis B en trabajadores de un hospital universitario portugués / Evaluation of the immunological response to three doses of the Hepatitis B vaccine in workers of a Portuguese university Hospital

Objetivos: Evaluar la respuesta a tres dosis de la vacuna contra la Hepatitis B en profesionales de la salud. Analizar su asociación con la edad, género, tabaquismo, índice de masa corporal (IMC), presencia de enfermedades crónicas y tiempo transcurrido entre la vacunación y la medición del AcHBs. Material y Métodos: estudio observacional, transversal. Muestra de trabajadores de un Hospital Universitario Portugués que realizaron medición del AcHBs en 2018 y que tenían esquema de vacunación completo. El proceso clínico individual fue consultado. Fue aplicado el Test Mann-Whitney y Chi-cuadrado y se aceptó un nivel de significancia del 5%. Resultados y Conclusiones: Analizamos resultados de 181 trabajadores, edad media 32,99 años (min. 20 - max. 64), la mayoría mujeres (76,80%). El AcHBs fue positivo en 140 (77.35%) y negativo en 41 (22.65%). La presencia de enfermedades crónicas mostró asociación estadísticamente significativa con AcHBs negativo tras un esquema de vacunación completo (AU)

Objectives: evaluate the response to three doses of the Hepatitis B vaccine in healthcare workers. Analyze its association with age, gender, smoking, body mass index (BMI), presence of chronic diseases and time elapsed between vaccination and the measurement of AcHBs. Material and Methods: observational, cross-sectional study. Sample of workers from a Portuguese University Hospital who measured AcHBs in 2018 and who had a complete vaccination scheme. The individual clinical process was consulted. The Mann-Whitney and Chi-square test were applied and a significance level of 5% was accepted. Results and Conclusions: We analyzed the results of 181 workers, mean age 32.99 years (min. 20 - max. 64), the majority women (76.80%). The AcHBs was positive in 140 (77.35%) and negative in 41 (22.65%). The presence of chronic diseases showed a statistically significant association with negative AcHBs after a complete vaccination scheme (AU)

Symptoms in healthcare professionals infected with SARS-CoV-2 at a university hospital.

Introduction: Healthcare professionals are among the main risk groups for novel coronavirus disease (COVID 19). The identification of respiratory symptoms is important in the clinical assumption of infection, but it may be asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic. Objectives: To compare the proportion of professionals with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with the proportion of positive asymptomatic professionals with high-risk contact; and to identify respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms of professionals with suspected COVID-19 and the proportion of those who tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that retrospectively analyzed clinical records of health professionals who spontaneously sought the occupational health service of a university hospital center from March to August 2020 for presenting with symptoms and/or for having had high risk contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 and who, in this context, underwent the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test for SARS-CoV-2. Results: COVID-19 was confirmed in 27 of the 420 symptomatic professionals vs. three of the 193 asymptomatic professionals (p = 0.009). Of the 371 professionals with respiratory symptoms, 19 were positive for COVID-19 vs. 11 among the 242 with no respiratory symptoms (p = 0.750). Nasal congestion and rhinorrhea were the respiratory symptoms with the highest proportion of positive cases (11.43 and 8.97%, respectively). Conclusions: Although COVID-19 is typically associated with respiratory symptoms, not all these symptoms were predictive of disease. It becomes crucial to value mild symptoms among healthcare professionals.

Dermatoses associadas ao trabalho em profissionais de saúde de um centro hospitalar português / Occupational dermatoses among healthcare workers in a hospital center in Portugal

Introdução: As patologias cutâneas representam mais de 35% das doenças relacionadas com o trabalho, afetando anualmente 1/1.000 trabalhadores. Objetivos: Caracterizar as dermatoses associadas ao trabalho em profissionais de um centro hospitalar e identificar possíveis agentes desencadeantes e fatores de suscetibilidade. Métodos: Estudo transversal com recolha da informação registrada no processo clínico eletrônico dos trabalhadores observados em exame de saúde periódico no período de um ano. Resultados: Nos 1.741 trabalhadores estudados, 3,56% tinham registro de dermatoses associadas ao trabalho, a maioria mulheres (76,85%). Dos profissionais com dermatoses, 34 (54,84%) tinham dermatite de contato irritativa, 17 (27,42%) urticária ao látex, seis (9,68%) dermatite de contato alérgica e cinco (8,06%) duas dermatoses concomitantes. Encontrou-se diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os vários grupos profissionais (p=0,008), sendo os auxiliares de enfermagem os mais afetados (5,11%). Verificou-se também maior prevalência (8,47%) em profissionais de blocos operatórios (p=0,001). Os principais agentes desencadeantes foram desinfetantes cutâneos, látex, luvas de nitrilo e contato prolongado com água (4,84%). Conclusões: Por tratar-se de um estudo baseado em registros clínicos, a informação está dependente da qualidade destes. Para além disso, os auxiliares de enfermagem foram a maioria representada na amostra no que se refere à população do centro hospitalar, o que limita a extrapolação dos resultados. Este estudo encontrou prevalência de dermatoses de somente 3,56%, o que talvez se deva à implementação de medidas preventivas. Os profissionais mais afetados foram os de blocos operatórios e os auxiliares de enfermagem. Os desinfetantes cutâneos foram os principais agentes apontados como desencadeantes.

Background: Skin diseases account for more than 35% of occupational diseases, affecting 1/1,000 workers annually. Objective: To characterize occupational dermatoses affecting hospital workers and identify possible triggers and susceptibility factors. Methods: Cross-sectional study in which we analyzed information extracted from electronic medical records of workers who performed periodic examinations in the course of one year. Results: About 3.56% of 1,741 included workers had a diagnosis of occupational dermatosis, being mainly women (76.85%). Thirty-four (54.84%) of the affected workers had irritant contact dermatitis, 17 (27.42%) latex allergy, 6 (9.68%) allergic dermatitis, and 5 (8.06%) two concomitant conditions. We found significant difference in prevalence as a function of occupational group (p=0.008), being highest for nursing assistants (5.11%). Prevalence was also higher for employees allocated to surgery departments (8.47%, p=0.001). Main triggers were skin disinfectants, latex, nitrile gloves, and prolonged contact with water (4.84%). Conclusion: The quality of the analyzed data depends on the quality of the analyzed medical records. Most subjects were nursing assistants, which fact hinders the generalization of the results. The prevalence of occupational dermatosis was just 3.56%, which might be explained by previously implemented preventive measures. The employees most frequently affected were those allocated to surgery departments and nursing assistants. Skin disinfectants were the most frequent triggers.

Occupational dermatoses among healthcare workers in a hospital center in Portugal.

BACKGROUND: Skin diseases account for more than 35% of occupational diseases, affecting 1/1,000 workers annually. OBJECTIVE: To characterize occupational dermatoses affecting hospital workers and identify possible triggers and susceptibility factors. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in which we analyzed information extracted from electronic medical records of workers who performed periodic examinations in the course of one year. RESULTS: About 3.56% of 1,741 included workers had a diagnosis of occupational dermatosis, being mainly women (76.85%). Thirty-four (54.84%) of the affected workers had irritant contact dermatitis, 17 (27.42%) latex allergy, 6 (9.68%) allergic dermatitis, and 5 (8.06%) two concomitant conditions. We found significant difference in prevalence as a function of occupational group (p=0.008), being highest for nursing assistants (5.11%). Prevalence was also higher for employees allocated to surgery departments (8.47%, p=0.001). Main triggers were skin disinfectants, latex, nitrile gloves, and prolonged contact with water (4.84%). CONCLUSION: The quality of the analyzed data depends on the quality of the analyzed medical records. Most subjects were nursing assistants, which fact hinders the generalization of the results. The prevalence of occupational dermatosis was just 3.56%, which might be explained by previously implemented preventive measures. The employees most frequently affected were those allocated to surgery departments and nursing assistants. Skin disinfectants were the most frequent triggers.

INTRODUÇÃO: As patologias cutâneas representam mais de 35% das doenças relacionadas com o trabalho, afetando anualmente 1/1.000 trabalhadores. OBJETIVOS: Caracterizar as dermatoses associadas ao trabalho em profissionais de um centro hospitalar e identificar possíveis agentes desencadeantes e fatores de suscetibilidade. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com recolha da informação registrada no processo clínico eletrônico dos trabalhadores observados em exame de saúde periódico no período de um ano. RESULTADOS: Nos 1.741 trabalhadores estudados, 3,56% tinham registro de dermatoses associadas ao trabalho, a maioria mulheres (76,85%). Dos profissionais com dermatoses, 34 (54,84%) tinham dermatite de contato irritativa, 17 (27,42%) urticária ao látex, seis (9,68%) dermatite de contato alérgica e cinco (8,06%) duas dermatoses concomitantes. Encontrou-se diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os vários grupos profissionais (p=0,008), sendo os auxiliares de enfermagem os mais afetados (5,11%). Verificou-se também maior prevalência (8,47%) em profissionais de blocos operatórios (p=0,001). Os principais agentes desencadeantes foram desinfetantes cutâneos, látex, luvas de nitrilo e contato prolongado com água (4,84%). CONCLUSÕES: Por tratar-se de um estudo baseado em registros clínicos, a informação está dependente da qualidade destes. Para além disso, os auxiliares de enfermagem foram a maioria representada na amostra no que se refere à população do centro hospitalar, o que limita a extrapolação dos resultados. Este estudo encontrou prevalência de dermatoses de somente 3,56%, o que talvez se deva à implementação de medidas preventivas. Os profissionais mais afetados foram os de blocos operatórios e os auxiliares de enfermagem. Os desinfetantes cutâneos foram os principais agentes apontados como desencadeantes.