Welder's anthrax: a review of an occupational disease.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Antonini JM ; Bower WA ; Burton, Nancy C. ; Dawson P ; De Perio, Marie A. ; Dowell, Chad H. ; Feldmann K ; Hendricks KA ; Hoffmaster AR ; Marston CK ; Salzer JS ; Schrodt CA
• Description:
  Since 1997, nine cases of severe pneumonia, caused by species within the B. cereus group and with a presentation similar to that of inhalation anthrax, were reported in seemingly immunocompetent metalworkers, with most being welders. In seven of the cases, isolates were found to harbor a plasmid similar to the B. anthracis pXO1 that encodes anthrax toxins. In this paper, we review the literature on the B. cereus group spp. pneumonia among welders and other metalworkers, which we term welder's anthrax. We describe the epidemiology, including more information on two cases of welder's anthrax in 2020. We also describe the health risks associated with welding, potential mechanisms of infection and pathological damage, prevention measures according to the hierarchy of controls, and clinical and public health considerations. Considering occupational risk factors and controlling exposure to welding fumes and gases among workers, according to the hierarchy of controls, should help prevent disease transmission in the workplace. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Exposure Epidemiology Hazardous Substances Metals Metal Workers Occupational Health Pathology Preventive Medicine Public Health Respiratory Tract Diseases Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Welding Workplace

  More +
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Bacillus; Welder; Welder's Anthrax Welders; Anthrax; Pneumonia; Metalworking; Metalworking Industry; Toxins; Epidemiology; Health Effects; Exposure Levels; Risk Factors; Pathology; Preventive Measures; Public Health; Welding Fumes; Gases; Workers; Work Environment; Disease Transmission;
• ISSN:
  2076-0817
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OD - Office of the Director ; DFSE - Division of Field Studies and Engineering ; HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  11
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20065068
• Citation:
  Pathogens 2022 Apr; 11(4):402
• Contact Point Address:
  Marie A. de Perio, Office of the Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, OH 45226
• Email:
  mdeperio@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing ; Services
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Pathogens
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ca71b4e2cf0ac29ffd23b548337970b8638886f6de4fd64062711edbb2b66268ab180bca5834cde86f1fb0c4cf7f25c0a54052b4902966db1f6605eb37330c88
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/248725/cdc_248725_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 550.09 KB ]