Health Problems and Disinfectant Product Exposure Among Staff at a Large Multispecialty Hospital

Details

• Personal Author:
  Casey ML ; Cox-Ganser, Jean M. ; Cummings, Kristin J. ; Edwards, Nicole T. ; Hawley B
• Description:
  BACKGROUND: Hospital staff expressed health concerns after a surface disinfectant product containing hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, and acetic acid was introduced. We sought to determine if this product posed a health hazard. METHODS: An interviewer-administered questionnaire on work and health characteristics was completed by 163 current staff. Symptoms that improved away from work were considered work-related. Forty-nine air samples were taken for hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, and acetic acid. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were calculated using Poisson regression, and standardized morbidity ratios (SMRs) were calculated using nationally representative data. RESULTS: Product users reported higher prevalence of work-related wheeze and watery eyes than nonusers (P < .05). Workers in the department with the highest air measurements had significantly higher prevalence of watery eyes (PR, 2.88; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.18-7.05) than those in departments with lower air measurements, and they also had a >3-fold excess of current asthma (SMR, 3.47; 95% CI, 1.48-8.13) compared with the U.S. POPULATION: CONCLUSIONS: This disinfectant product was associated with mucous membrane and respiratory health effects. Risks of mucous membrane irritation and asthma in health care workers should be considered in development of disinfection protocols to protect patients from hospital-acquired infections. Identification of optimal protocols that reduce worker exposures while maintaining patient safety is needed. Description provided by NIOSH
• Subjects:
  • Asthma
  • Asthma, Occupational
  • Disinfectants
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Hazardous Substances
  • Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services
  • Health Personnel
  • Lung
  • Lung Diseases
  • Men
  More +
• Keywords:
  • Disinfectants
  • Cleaning compounds
  • Medical facilities
  • Medical personnel
  • Questionnaires
  • Health effects
  • Health hazards
  • Health care personnel
  • Health care facilities
  • Humans
  More +
• ISSN:
  0196-6553
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  RHD - Respiratory Health Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  45
• Issue:
  10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20049912
• Citation:
  Am J Infect Control 2017 Oct; 45(10):1133-1138
• Contact Point Address:
  Megan L. Casey, RN, MPH, CIC, Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1095 Willowdale Rd, Mail Stop HG900, Morgantown, WV 26505-2888
• Email:
  MCasey@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  • Acetic acid (CAS RN 64-19-7)
  • Hydrogen peroxide (CAS RN 7722-84-1)
  • Peracetic acid (CAS RN 79-21-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Infection Control
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/210506/cdc_210506_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 380.77 KB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a04df45857bfd7b59403c91be84580b476ad757bb62cc2d3bc69d53f5ff3c30414ba1999801a74febd4cd87fc09fdddf42a557fccd08a0ab5cadabc9d039cd2c