Occupational diseases of health care workers from exposure to infectious agents: the current state of the problem

Introduction. Infectious diseases occupy a leading place in the structure of occupational diseases (OD) of health care workers (HCW). If until 2020, the main OD from exposure to a biological factor were tuberculosis and viral hepatitis (VH), then in 2020 the world faced another infectious disease of professional etiology - infection of health workers with a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The aim of the study is to identify problematic issues in establishing the connection of an infectious disease with a profession in health care workers. Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of cases of occupational diseases was applied according to the data of the Department of Rospotrebnadzor for the Republic of Tatarstan (RT) and the register of patients of the Republican Center of Occupational Pathology. Results. Among the health care workers of the Republic of Tatarstan, mainly occupational infectious diseases are diagnosed (88.9%). Tuberculosis is the most common occupational disease among health care workers of the Republic of Tatarstan, accounting for 68.4%, and viral hepatitis accounts for 20.5%. In 2020, the most common OD from biological factors in the health care workers of RT was infection COVID-19. Conclusions. Currently, the most common disease of infectious genesis in health care workers is a new coronavirus infection. For a high-quality examination of the connection of an infectious disease with a profession, the list of documents must include a card of epidemiological examination, which must be filled in by an epidemiologist not after establishing the connection of the disease with the profession, but in parallel with the preparation of a sanitary and hygienic characteristic (SGC) of working conditions.

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THE STATE OF SAFETY AND HYGIENE OF WORK OF MEDICAL WORKERS IN MODERN CONDITIONS

Bulletin of Lviv State University of Life Safety ◽

10.32447/20784643.22.2020.08 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 ◽

pp. 59-65

Author(s):

V. Fedorchuk-Moroz ◽

M. Rudynets ◽

M.-B. Moroz

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Occupational Diseases ◽

Occupational Safety ◽

The State ◽

Occupational Safety And Health ◽

Safety And Health ◽

Care Workers ◽

Coronavirus Infection

Problem. In modern conditions as health care workers are fighting the coronavirus infection, the state of their occupational safety and hygiene needs to be studied. The article is devoted to this problem.Aim. The work aims to conduct a comprehensive assessment of occupational safety and hygiene of health care workers and develop recommendations for its improvement in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.Research methods. During performing the research used complex methods of scientific knowledge: the philosophi-cal (dialectical), general (methods of complex, formal-logical and systematic analysis and synthesis) and comparative-law.The object of the study is the safety and hygiene of health care workers.The scientific novelty lies in a comprehensive study of theoretical and practical aspects of occupational safety and hygiene of medical workers to reduce occupational injuries and occupational diseases, as well as to lower the degree of occupational risks.Results. The article considers the state of occupational safety and health of health care workers, who in the performance of their professional duties face a whole range of dangerous and harmful factors that can lead to the development of occupational diseases. Coronavirus infection paid particular attention. The article analyzes the latest research and publications on this issue, examines current law and regulations, considers the rights of physicians to healthy and safe working conditions.Conclusions and recommendations. In order to improve the state of occupational safety and hygiene of health care workers we recommend: to resume the operation of sanitary and epidemiological services in the country; to continue the educational training of epidemiologists and hygienists in universities; to ensure the organization of special training for all employees of medical institutions on modern methods of infection prevention, post-exposure prevention, as well as measures and means of infection control (introductory - during employment, periodic - once a year before the annual outbreak of infectious diseases, target - in case of sudden mass outbreaks of dangerous infections and their significant spread or after an occupational accident (infection)); to oblige to teach occupational safety disciplines in universities of medical profiles; at the state level to provide for the establishment of an appropriate system of occupational safety and health in the field of health care; to carry out obligatory assessment of working conditions and determination of the category of severity of work of medical workers; to provide all medical workers involved in the fight against infectious diseases with personal protective equipment at the required amount; to provide rational working and leisure conditions for medical workers in order to protect and preserve their health and ability to work; to ensure proper control over com-pliance with safety requirements when working with equipment that is a source of physically hazardous and harmful production factors; to carry out constant control over the amount of chemical and biological substances in the air of the working zone, air ionization, not allowing the maximum permissible concentrations to be exceeded.

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Occupational pathology of respiratory organs in health care workers: issues of timely diagnosis

Russian Journal of Occupational Health and Industrial Ecology ◽

10.31089/1026-9428-2020-60-2-89-92 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 89-92

Author(s):

R. V. Garipova ◽

Z. M. Berkheeva

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Early Diagnosis ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Occupational Diseases ◽

Respiratory Diseases ◽

Care Workers ◽

Respiratory Pathology ◽

Analysis Of Cases ◽

The Republic ◽

Medical Examinations

Introduction. In the structure of occupational diseases of medical workers, respiratory pathology occupies a leading place, accounting for 60% in the Republic of Tatarstan. The most common are diseases from exposure to infectious agents in the form of various forms of respiratory tuberculosis. Most often, an infiltrative form is diagnosed, accompanied in 48.6% of cases by bacilli discharge.The aim of the study is to explore the structure of occupational respiratory diseases in workers of the healthcare industry of the Republic of Tatarstan, to identify factors that affect their early diagnosis during medical examinations.Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of cases of occupational respiratory diseases in health care workers according to the office of Rospotrebnadzor of the Republic of Tatarstan and the register of patients of the Republican Center of Occupational Pathology.Results. In the structure of occupational diseases of the respiratory system, the leading place is occupied by pulmonary tuberculosis, amounting to 86%, followed by bronchial asthma–8%, chronic toxic bronchitis–4% and subatrophic rhinopharyngolaryngitis–2%. Analysis of cases of occupational respiratory pathology showed that only tuberculosis was detected during periodic medical examinations. Other respiratory diseases were diagnosed by applying for medical care, when there was a pronounced negative trend and when the disease was initially associated with the profession, we had to talk about sending it to the Bureau of medical and social expertise.Conclusions. Early diagnosis of occupational respiratory diseases of allergic etiology and toxic respiratory lesions in medical workers at periodic medical examinations can be achieved by the quality of a special assessment of working conditions due to the mandatory assessment of the chemical factor-contact with allergens, antitumor drugs, hormones, enzymes of microbial origin, narcotic analgesics, regardless of the concentration of harmful substances in the air of the working area. It is also necessary to take into account the presence of substances with an acute irritant effect.

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On the issue of criteria for recognition of occupational disease as an insured event in health care workers

Russian Journal of Occupational Health and Industrial Ecology ◽

10.31089/1026-9428-2019-59-9-618-619 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 618-619

Author(s):

L. V. Dovgusha ◽

N. N. Petruhin

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Occupational Disease ◽

Occupational Diseases ◽

Medical Rehabilitation ◽

Care Workers ◽

Rehabilitation Measures ◽

Professional Capacity ◽

Insured Event

The publication deals with cases of occupational diseases in medical workers, in which the degree of loss of professional capacity is not determined, but patients need medical rehabilitation measures.

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Occupationally acquired infectious diseases among health care workers in Brazil: Use of Internet tools to improve management, prevention, and surveillance

American Journal of Infection Control ◽

10.1016/j.ajic.2006.06.001 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 267-270 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Cristiane Rapparini ◽

Paulo Feijó Barroso ◽

Valéria Saraceni ◽

Alcyone Artioli Machado ◽

Guilherme Côrtes Fernandes

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Care Workers ◽

Use Of Internet

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Risk of Exposure, Perception and Vaccination Status of Chronic Viral Hepatitis among Health Care Workers in Benue State, North Central Nigeria

JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN BASIC AND CLINICAL SCIENCES ◽

10.46912/jrbcs.102 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 57-62

Author(s):

A S Obekpa ◽

A O Malu ◽

R Bello ◽

M Duguru

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Viral Hepatitis ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Hepatitis B Vaccine ◽

Hepatitis B Vaccination ◽

Care Workers ◽

Risk Of Exposure ◽

Needle Prick ◽

Needle Prick Injury

Health care workers are high-risk group for contracting hepatitis B and C virus infections. Hepatitis B and C can be contracted in the hospital setting by needle prick injury, contact with blood (and body fluids) and during invasive medical procedures. This study aims to assess the risk of exposure, the concern or perception of healthcare workers about getting infected (with HBV and/or HCV) from the workplace and the level of HBV vaccination uptake among them. The study was carried out during a capacity building workshop organized for health care workers from all the Local Government Areas in Benue State. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 168 participants in attendance, after obtaining verbal consent. One hundred and thirty-eight (138) questionnaires were properly filled and returned, 115 (83.3%) have had needle prick injury, 127 (92%) have had blood spilling on them and 118 (85.5%) have been involved in the management of hepatitis patients. One hundred and nineteen (86.2%) were afraid of contracting hepatitis infection from their place of work, 133 (96.4%) were aware of hepatitis B vaccine for adult, 87 (63%) had received at least one dose of hepatitis B vaccine but only 56 (40.6%) received the complete three doses. Health care workers in Benue State are aware of the risk of contracting viral hepatitis at their workplace and are concerned about this risk. However, the uptake of hepatitis B vaccination among them remains poor.

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