CDC STACKS serves as an archival repository of CDC-published products including scientific findings, journal articles, guidelines, recommendations, or other public health information authored or co-authored by CDC or funded partners.
As a repository, CDC STACKS retains documents in their original published format to ensure public access to scientific information.
i
Health problems and disinfectant product exposure among staff at a large multispecialty hospital
-
10 01 2017
-
-
Source: Am J Infect Control. 45(10):1133-1138
Details:
-
Journal Article:Am J Infect Control
-
Personal Author:
-
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 non-users (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.
-
Subjects:
-
Keywords:
-
Source:
-
Pubmed ID:28549881
-
Pubmed Central ID:PMC5685540
-
Document Type:
-
Funding:
-
Volume:45
-
Issue:10
-
Collection(s):
-
Main Document Checksum:
-
Download URL:
-
File Type:
[PDF-482.31 KB]
