scholarly journals Chemical risk in hospital settings: Overview on monitoring strategies and international regulatory aspects

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Charlier ◽  
Albino Coglianese ◽  
Federica De Rosa ◽  
Francesco De Caro ◽  
Ornella Piazza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Hospital Department ◽  
Chemical Risk ◽  
Working Environments ◽  
Monitoring Strategies ◽  
International Regulations ◽  
Anesthetic Gases ◽  
Risk Of Exposure

Chemical risk in hospital settings is a growing concern that health professionals and supervisory authorities must deal with daily. Exposure to chemical risk is quite different depending on the hospital department involved and might origin from multiple sources, such as the use of sterilizing agents, disinfectants, detergents, solvents, heavy metals, dangerous drugs, and anesthetic gases. Improving prevention procedures and constantly monitoring the presence and level of potentially toxic substances, both in workers (biological monitoring) and in working environments (environmental monitoring), might significantly reduce the risk of exposure and contaminations. The purpose of this article is to present an overview on this subject, which includes the current international regulations, the chemical pollutants to which medical and paramedical personnel are mainly exposed, and the strategies developed to improve safety conditions for all healthcare workers. 

scholarly journals Epidemiology of COVID-19 infection amongst workers in Primary Healthcare in Qatar

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Ghaith Al-Kuwari ◽  
Mariam AbdelMalik ◽  
Asma Ali Al-Nuaimi ◽  
Jazeel Abdulmajeed ◽  
Hamad Eid Al-Romaihi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Attack Rate ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Safety Training ◽  
P Value ◽  
Risk Environment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Staff Support ◽  
Preventative Measures ◽  
Risk Of Exposure

AbstractBackgroundCOVID-19 transmission was significant amongst Healthcare workers worldwide.AimThis study aims to estimate the risk of exposure for COVID-19 across Primary Healthcare workers in the State of Qatar. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to study the burden of COVID-19 among staff working at PHCC during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 1 to October 31, 2020.Results1,048 (87.4%)of the infected HCWs belonged to the age group below 45 years, and 488 (40.7%) HCWs were females. 450 (37.5%) were HCWs clinical staff working in one of the 27 PHCC HCs; Despite the increased patient footfall and risk environment, the COVID HCs had an attack rate of 10.1%, which is not significantly different from the average attack rate of 8.9% among staff located in other HCs (p-value =0.26). Storekeepers, engineering & maintenance staff, housekeeping staff, support staff, and security staff (outsourced positions) had the highest positivity rates, 100%, 67.2%, 47.1%, 32.4%, and 29.5% respective positivity rates.ConclusionsThe elevated risk of infection amongst outsourced healthcare workers can be explained by environmental factors such as living conditions. On the other hand, better containment within clinical healthcare workers can be attributed to strict safety training and compliance with preventative measures which is recommended to be implemented across all settings.

Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Healthcare Workers: Risk of Exposure and Infection

1994 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 745-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce P. Lanphear ◽  
Calvin C. Linnemann ◽  
Constance G. Cannon ◽  
Martha M. DeRonde ◽  
Luann Pendy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus Infection ◽  
Risk Of Exposure

History of EPI Suite™ and future perspectives on chemical property estimation in US Toxic Substances Control Act new chemical risk assessments

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcella L. Card ◽  
Vicente Gomez-Alvarez ◽  
Wen-Hsiung Lee ◽  
David G. Lynch ◽  
Nerija S. Orentas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Property ◽  
Risk Assessments ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Future Perspectives ◽  
Qsar Modeling ◽  
Chemical Risk ◽  
The Past ◽  
Property Estimation ◽  
History Of ◽  
Toxic Substances Control Act

A discussion of the past developments, current practices, and future opportunities in QSAR modeling for new chemical risk assessments.

scholarly journals Decision-theoretic inspection planning using imperfect and incomplete data

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Domenic Di Francesco ◽  
Marios Chryssanthopoulos ◽  
Michael Havbro Faber ◽  
Ujjwal Bharadwaj
Keyword(s):  
Imperfect Information ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Expected Value ◽  
Inspection Planning ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Damage Models ◽  
Monitoring Strategies ◽  
Subject Matter Expertise ◽  
Integrity Management ◽  
Expected Value Of Information

Abstract Attempts to formalize inspection and monitoring strategies in industry have struggled to combine evidence from multiple sources (including subject matter expertise) in a mathematically coherent way. The perceived requirement for large amounts of data are often cited as the reason that quantitative risk-based inspection is incompatible with the sparse and imperfect information that is typically available to structural integrity engineers. Current industrial guidance is also limited in its methods of distinguishing quality of inspections, as this is typically based on simplified (qualitative) heuristics. In this paper, Bayesian multi-level (partial pooling) models are proposed as a flexible and transparent method of combining imperfect and incomplete information, to support decision-making regarding the integrity management of in-service structures. This work builds on the established theoretical framework for computing the expected value of information, by allowing for partial pooling between inspection measurements (or groups of measurements). This method is demonstrated for a simulated example of a structure with active corrosion in multiple locations, which acknowledges that the data will be associated with some precision, bias, and reliability. Quantifying the extent to which an inspection of one location can reduce uncertainty in damage models at remote locations has been shown to influence many aspects of the expected value of an inspection. These results are considered in the context of the current challenges in risk based structural integrity management.

scholarly journals Determining the source of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a healthcare worker

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasia Safdar ◽  
Gage K. Moreno ◽  
Katarina M. Braun ◽  
Thomas C. Friedrich ◽  
David H. O’Connor
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Healthcare Worker ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Hospital Infection Control ◽  
Risk Of Exposure ◽  
N95 Respirators ◽  
Cumulative Prevalence

BackgroundHealthcare workers (HCWs) are at the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and are at risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection from their interactions with patients and in the community (1, 2). Limited availability of recommended personal protective equipment (PPE), in particular N95 respirators, has fueled concerns about whether HCWs are adequately protected from exposure while caring for patients. Understanding the source of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a HCW – the community or the healthcare system – is critical for understanding the effectiveness of hospital infection control and PPE practices. In Dane County, Wisconsin, community prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 is relatively low (cumulative prevalence of ~0.06% – positive cases / total population in Dane county as of April 17). Although SARS-CoV-2 infections in HCWs are often presumed to be acquired during the course of patient care, there are few reports unambiguously identifying the source of acquisition.ObjectiveTo determine the source of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a healthcare worker.

Prevalence of Coronavirus Disease-2019 among Healthcare Workers in Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex in Tehran, Iran

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed Hadi Kalantar ◽  
Seyed Mohammad Javad Mortazavi ◽  
Nima Bagheri ◽  
Seyed Ali Dehghan Manshadi ◽  
Alireza Moharrami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Healthcare Staff ◽  
Hospital Database ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Tertiary Center ◽  
Risk Of Exposure ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Background: The novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has become a significant worldwide problem since January 2019. Hospitals have spent most of their time and logistics on patients with COVID-19. During this crisis, many healthcare providers have been infected with the disease, and occasionally, some wards and operating rooms were shut down as a result. Here, we explain our experience with the healthcare staff involvement with COVID-19 in our hospital. Methods: As a referral tertiary center, Imam Khomeini Hospital (Tehran, Iran) has 4,200 health-care workers (HCWs). From February 20, 2020 to August 21, 2020, we investigated the hospital database for COVID-19 involvement among the staff. Results: During the study period, 973 (23%) hospital HCWs were detected with COVID-19, 378 (9%) of whom were involved between June 21 and July 21, 2020. In the orthopedic department, 20 of 43 (46%) HCWs were infected with COVID-19. Conclusion: We believe that the increase in the incidence of the disease and higher risk of exposure is a highly noticeable factor which should be addressed by the administrative health officials.

scholarly journals Human risk assessment of benzene after a gasoline station fuel leak

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam dos Anjos Santos ◽  
Bruno Esteves Tavora ◽  
Sergio Koide ◽  
Eloisa Dutra Caldas
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Cancer Risk ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Federal District ◽  
Propagation Model ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Gasoline Station ◽  
Total Cancer ◽  
Risk Of Exposure ◽  
The Mean

OBJECTIVE: To assess the health risk of exposure to benzene for a community affected by a fuel leak. METHODS: Data regarding the fuel leak accident with, which occurred in the Brasilia, Federal District, were obtained from the Fuel Distributor reports provided to the environmental authority. Information about the affected population (22 individuals) was obtained from focal groups of eight individuals. Length of exposure and water benzene concentration were estimated through a groundwater flow model associated with a benzene propagation model. The risk assessment was conducted according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry methodology. RESULTS: A high risk perception related to the health consequences of the accident was evident in the affected community (22 individuals), probably due to the lack of assistance and a poor risk communication from government authorities and the polluting agent. The community had been exposed to unsafe levels of benzene (> 5 µg/L) since December 2001, five months before they reported the leak. The mean benzene level in drinking water (72.2 µg/L) was higher than that obtained by the Fuel Distributer using the Risk Based Corrective Action methodology (17.2 µg/L).The estimated benzene intake from the consumption of water and food reached a maximum of 0.0091 µg/kg bw/day (5 x 10-7 cancer risk per 106 individuals). The level of benzene in water vapor while showering reached 7.5 µg/m3 for children (1 per 104 cancer risk). Total cancer risk ranged from 110 to 200 per 106 individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The population affected by the fuel leak was exposed to benzene levels that might have represented a health risk. Local government authorities need to develop better strategies to respond rapidly to these types of accidents to protect the health of the affected population and the environment.

scholarly journals Ophthalmological practices in COVID times

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 270-274
Author(s):  
Amit Raj ◽  
Prerna Sinha ◽  
Amit Kumar ◽  
Upasna Sinha
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Literature Search ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The World ◽  
Risk Of Exposure

The COVID 19 pandemic has brought about a change in the lifestyle of one and all with the healthcare workers being no exception. The objective of this review is to discuss the problems faced during the COVID19 pandemic especially by the ophthalmological community owing to the close contact with the patient during examination which is inevitable. The text has been written after a thorough literature search of articles on Pubmed using relevant keywords. It discusses and brings forth the ways of ophthalmological practices to minimize the risk of exposure being followed across the world as laid down by the ophthalmological societies of various countries and regions. The importance of social distancing and the role of tele-ophthalmology which formed the cornerstone of treatment during this hour of crisis has also been discussed.

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