Skin Contamination and Absorption of Chemicals from Water and Soil

Abstract Background Fluorescent tracers are often used with ultraviolet lights to visibly identify healthcare worker self-contamination after doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE). This method has drawbacks, as it cannot detect pathogen-sized contaminants nor airborne contamination in subjects’ breathing zones. Methods A contamination detection/quantification method was developed using 2-µm polystyrene latex spheres (PSLs) to investigate skin contamination (via swabbing) and potential inhalational exposure (via breathing zone air sampler). Porcine skin coupons were used to estimate the PSL swabbing recovery efficiency and limit of detection (LOD). A pilot study with 5 participants compared skin contamination levels detected via the PSL vs fluorescent tracer methods, while the air sampler quantified potential inhalational exposure to PSLs during doffing. Results Average PSL skin swab recovery efficiency was 40% ± 29% (LOD = 1 PSL/4 cm2 of skin). In the pilot study, all subjects had PSL and fluorescent tracer skin contamination. Two subjects had simultaneously located contamination of both types on a wrist and hand. However, for all other subjects, the PSL method enabled detection of skin contamination that was not detectable by the fluorescent tracer method. Hands/wrists were more commonly contaminated than areas of the head/face (57% vs 23% of swabs with PSL detection, respectively). One subject had PSLs detected by the breathing zone air sampler. Conclusions This study provides a well-characterized method that can be used to quantitate levels of skin and inhalational contact with simulant pathogen particles. The PSL method serves as a complement to the fluorescent tracer method to study PPE doffing self-contamination.

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Nosocomial blood stream infections in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Urmia, Islamic Republic of Iran, 1999-2001

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal ◽

10.26719/2005.11.3.478 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 478-484

Author(s):

M. Rahbar

Keyword(s):

Blood Stream ◽

Blood Cultures ◽

Microbiology Laboratory ◽

Islamic Republic ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Gram Positive ◽

Blood Stream Infections ◽

Skin Contamination ◽

Islamic Republic Of Iran ◽

Gram Positive Cocci

Ina 2-year retrospective study, the database of the microbiology laboratory of the Imam Khomeini Hospital was reviewed to identify patients who had nosocomial bacteraemia between 1 May 1999 and 31 May 2001 and identify the pathogen responsible and its resisitance to antibiotics. Of 6492 patients in various wards, 593 [9.1%] had positive blood cultures; 85 of those [14.3%] had signs of potential skin contamination. Gram-positive cocci, including coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and other Gram-positive cocci, accounted for 42.3% of isolates. Gram-negative bacilli were responsible for another 42.3% of isolates; Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the predominant isolate. Patterns of drug resistance varied according to species of bacteria but were generally quite high

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A Study of Occupational Exposure to Patient's Blood and Saliva among Dental Students of Shahid Sadoughi Yazd University in 2016-2017

Journal of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences ◽

10.18502/ssu.v28i7.4268 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Farzane Vaziri ◽

Fahimeh Rashidi Maybodi ◽

Mohammad Hasan Akhavan-Karbassi ◽

Elahe Mansoori ◽

Nasrin Faal Rastegar

Keyword(s):

Occupational Exposure ◽

High Speed ◽

Dental Students ◽

Fisher Exact Test ◽

Medical Sciences ◽

Chi Square ◽

Exact Test ◽

Skin Contamination ◽

School Of Dentistry ◽

Dental Schools

Introduction: Occupational exposure in dentistry is defined as exposing the skin or mucosa to blood, saliva, or infectious discharge of the patient. Dentists are in contact with sharp and high-speed rotary devices that increase the chance of occupational exposure. The purpose of this study was to determine the occupational exposure to blood and saliva of patients in dental students of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciencesin 2016-2017. Methods: A descriptive analytical study was conducted on 70 senior dental students at the School of Dentistry of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences in Yazd, Iran. A standard questionnaire was used for collecting the data. After collecting the data, they were coded and entered into the SPSS 20 software and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Fisher exact test. Results: Based on the results, 49 (70%) of 70 students have been suffered from sharp devices. The skin or mucosa of the 62 students (88.6%) infected with saliva or other body fluids of the patients. Only 15.7% of the injuries were reported with sharp objects and 14.3% of mucosal-skin contamination with blood or saliva. Conclusion: Occupational exposure in dentistry environment is a common problem and many cases, which are related to these subjects were not reported. In order to reduce the risks of this, infection control issues should be taught to dental students. Therefore, occupational exposure management, follow-up centers and guidelines should be established for dental schools.

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Méthodes de mesure du transfert cutané des radionucléides au travers d'un épiderme intact ou lésé, application à la radiotoxicologie

Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology ◽

10.1139/y02-096 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 80 (7) ◽

pp. 733-741

Author(s):

H Tymen ◽

G Rateau ◽

K Guillet ◽

B Ramounet-Le Gall ◽

P Gérasimo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Percutaneous Absorption ◽

Experimental Methods ◽

Industrial Accident ◽

Common Cause ◽

The Third ◽

Nuclear Workers ◽

Radionuclide Contamination ◽

Skin Contamination ◽

Accident Conditions

Although skin contamination by radionuclides is the most common cause of nuclear workers accidents, few studies dealing with the penetration of radioactive contamination through the skin are available. This work is a review of experimental methods that allow to assess transfer of radionuclides through the skin in occupational conditions, with or without skin trauma. The first section describes the different methods applied for skin transfer assessment of chemicals used in pharmacology. Major radionuclide contamination accidents can be associated with skin traumas. Thus, the second section describes the adaptation of these methods to radiotoxicology. Finally, the third section is an in vivo investigation of cobalt transfer (57CoCl2) through undamaged and damaged skin which simulates different industrial accident conditions (excoriation, acid or alcalin burn, scalding, branding).Key words: skin lesion, cobalt, percutaneous absorption, skin radiocontamination, Franz's cell.

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