Abstract:
Healthcare facility staff use a wide variety of cleaning and disinfecting products during their daily operations, many of which are associated with respiratory or skin irritation or sensitization with repeated exposure. The objective of this study was to characterize the prevalence of cleaning and disinfection product use, glove use during cleaning and disinfection, and skin/allergy symptoms by occupation and identify the factors influencing glove use among the healthcare facility staff. A questionnaire was administered to the current employees at a midwestern Veterans Affairs healthcare facility that elicited information on cleaning and disinfection product use, glove use during cleaning and disinfection, skin/allergy symptoms, and other demographic characteristics, which were summarized by occupation. The central supply/environmental service workers (2% of the total survey population), nurses (26%,), nurse assistants (3%), and laboratory technicians (5%) had the highest prevalence of using cleaning or disinfecting products, specifically quaternary ammonium compounds, bleach, and alcohol. Glove use while using products was common in both patient care and non-patient care occupations. The factors associated with glove use included using bleach or quaternary ammonium compounds and using cleaning products 2-3 or 4-5 days per week. A high frequency of glove use (≥75%) was reported by workers in most occupations when using quaternary ammonium compounds or bleach. The use of alcohol, bleach, and quaternary ammonium compounds was associated with skin disorders (p < 0.05). These research findings indicate that although the workers from most occupations report a high frequency of glove use when using cleaning and disinfection products, there is room for improvement, especially among administrative, maintenance, and nursing workers. These groups may represent populations which could benefit from the implementation of workplace interventions and further training regarding the use of personal protective equipment and the potential health hazards of exposure to cleaning and disinfecting chemicals.
摘要:
医疗机构工作人员在日常操作中使用各种清洁和消毒产品,其中许多与反复接触引起的呼吸道或皮肤刺激或致敏有关。这项研究的目的是描述清洁和消毒产品使用的普遍性,在清洁和消毒过程中使用手套,以及按职业划分的皮肤/过敏症状,并确定影响医疗机构工作人员使用手套的因素。对中西部退伍军人事务医疗机构的现有员工进行了问卷调查,以获取有关清洁和消毒产品使用的信息,在清洁和消毒过程中使用手套,皮肤/过敏症状,和其他人口特征,用职业来概括。中央供应/环境服务人员(占调查总人口的2%),护士(26%,),护士助理(3%),和实验室技术人员(5%)使用清洁或消毒产品的患病率最高,特别是季铵化合物,漂白剂,和酒精。在使用产品时使用手套在患者护理和非患者护理职业中都很常见。与手套使用相关的因素包括使用漂白剂或季铵化合物和每周2-3或4-5天使用清洁产品。在使用季铵化合物或漂白剂时,大多数职业的工人报告手套使用频率很高(≥75%)。使用酒精,漂白剂,季铵化合物与皮肤病相关(p<0.05)。这些研究结果表明,尽管大多数职业的工人在使用清洁和消毒产品时报告手套的使用频率很高,还有改进的空间,尤其是在行政、维护,和护理工作者。这些群体可能代表了可以从工作场所干预措施的实施以及有关个人防护设备使用以及暴露于清洁和消毒化学品的潜在健康危害的进一步培训中受益的人群。