Radiaciones ionizantes en trabajadores sanitarios: función tiroidea y niveles de riesgo de exposición laboral / Ionizing radiation in healthcare workers: thyroid function and risk levels of occupational exposure

Introducción: Uno de los sectores donde más se emplean las radiaciones ionizantes es el sanitario. Existen evidencias que sugieren que la exposición a radiaciones ionizantes podría relacionarse con alteraciones en las hormonas tiroideas. Objetivos: Analizar la posible asociación de alteraciones de hormonas tiroideas con la exposición a radiaciones ionizantes en trabajadores sanitarios según la clasificación actual con mayor probabilidad de riesgo (PER A) y menor probabilidad de riesgo (PER B), y la influencia de otros factores asociados, así como, valorar las dosimetrías personales en función de la exposición laboral en distintas zonas de trabajo según el nivel de riesgo. Material y Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo comparativo de valores de TSH, T3 y T4 en trabajadores expuestos (PER A y/o PER B) y un grupo control. Finalmente, se realizó una comparación de valores de dosimetrías personales respecto a zonas de trabajo con distintos niveles de exposición. Resultados: se halla un ligero aumento de los valores de TSH en los trabajadores PER B (2,6 ± 1,4) y PER A (2,7 ± 1,3), frente a no PER (2,4 ± 1,5) sin alcanzar significación estadística. Se ha encontrado diferencia estadísticamente significativa en las dosis quinquenales individuales de los trabajadores en relación a los niveles de exposición laboral con valores de 0,1 ± 0,3 en la zona de exposición baja y de 0,9 ± 1,4 en la zona de exposición media/alta. Conclusiones: Se evidencia la relación entre exposición laboral a radiaciones ionizantes y los valores individuales dosimétricos en trabajadores sanitarios expuestos, por lo que parece conveniente considerar también las zonas de trabajo de cara a las medidas preventivas realizadas en los trabajos con riesgo de exposición a radiaciones ionizantes. (AU)

Introduction: One of the sectors with the highest rates of use of ionizing radiations is the healthcare system. There is some evidence to suggest that exposure to ionizing radiations could be associated with alterations in thyroid hormone levels. Objectives: To analyze a possible association between the levels of thyroid hormones and the occupational exposure to ionizing radiation in healthcare workers according to the current classification of PER A (with more probability of risk of exposure) and PER B (with less probability of risk of exposure), plus the influence of other factors. To analyze the values of personal dosimeters according to the occupational exposure in the different areas of work and level of risk. Material and Methods: Retrospective comparative study of TSH, T3 and T4 in exposed healthcare workers (PER A and PER B) and control group, working from 2014 to 2019. Levels of personal dosimeters were compared in the areas classified according to the level of risk of exposure. Results: No statistically significant relationship was found between the levels of thyroid hormones and the occupational exposure to radiation in PER A, PER B, though higher levels of TSH were found in the exposed groups PER B (2,6 ± 1,4) and PER A (2,7 ± 1,3) compared to TSH levels in the control group (2,4 ± 1,5). There is a statistically significant difference between the individual five-year dose of healthcare workers and the levels of occupational exposure, with values in the areas classified according to the level of exposure with values of 0,1 ± 0,3 in the low exposure area and 0,9 ± 1,4 in the medium/high exposure area. Conclusions: There is a relationship between occupational exposure to ionizing radiations and the individual dosimetric values, thus areas of work should be considered when designing preventive measures in healthcare workers exposed to ionizing radiations. (AU)

Serological study of healthcare workers in four different hospitals in Madrid (Spain) with no previous history of COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: Healthcare workers (HCWs) have been one of the most severely affected groups during the COVID-19 pandemic, though few studies have sought to determine the rate of undiagnosed cases among this population. In this study, we aim to determine the rate of undetected infection in HCWs, a potential source of nosocomial infection. METHODS: Serological screening for IgG and IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was carried out among HCWs from four different hospitals in Madrid, Spain, from 6 April to 25 April 2020; HCWs with a previous diagnosis of infection based on real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR assay performed after presenting compatible symptoms were excluded. Prevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies was calculated among HCWs to obtain the rate of COVID-19 presence of antibodies in each hospital. RESULTS: Of the 7121 HCWs studied, 6344 (89.09%) had not been previously diagnosed with COVID-19. A total of 5995 HCWs finally participated in the study, resulting in a participation rate of 94.49%. A positive IgM or IgG test against COVID-19 was revealed in 16.21% of the HCWs studied (n=972). CONCLUSION: This study reveals the importance of early detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs to prevent nosocomial infection and exposure of patients, visitors and workers and the spread of COVID-19 in the overall community.

Estado de inmunización frente a sarampión: utilidad de serología prevacunal en trabajadores de centros sanitarios / Measles immune response: use of serology before vaccination in healthcare workers

OBJETIVOS: Determinar la prevalencia de ausencia de seroprotección frente a sarampión en un grupo de trabajadores de un hospital terciario de Madrid, tramos de edad en los que se encuentran éstos y las categorías profesionales más expuestas. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se recogieron las serologías de IgG frente a sarampión de trabajadores del Hospital Fundación Jiménez Díaz en reconocimientos médicos y estudios de contacto desde 2004 hasta 2019. RESULTADOS: De los 2614 trabajadores estudiados, un 5,81% no presentan inmunidad al sarampión, siendo un 2,91% con resultado de IgG negativo y un 2,91% con resultado indeterminado. CONCLUSIONES: Parece de utilidad realizar serologías dirigidas a personal sanitario con riesgo de exposición a enfermedades de transmisión por vía aérea

OBJECTIVES: To establish the prevalence of absence of measles immunization in a cohort of healthcare workers of a tertiary hospital in Madrid, the age brackets and the most exposed occupational categories. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Measles IgG antibodies of a cohort of healthcare workers of University Hospital Fundación Jiménez Díaz were collected from medical examinations and contacts studies from 2004 until 2019. RESULTS: From 2614 studied healthcare workers, a 5,81% did not reveal measles immunity, with a 2,91% negative IgG result and a 2,91% with undetermined IgG result. CONCLUSIONS: Focused serology studies on healthcare workers with exposure risk to airborne transmitted infections seem to be useful