Details:

Alternative Title:
Am J Infect Control
Publisher's site:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2017.04.003
Personal Author:
Casey, Megan L. ; Hawley, Brie ; Edwards, Nicole ; Cox-Ganser, Jean M. ; Cummings, Kristin J.
Casey, Megan L. ; Hawley, Brie ; Edwards, Nicole ; Cox-Ganser, Jean M. ; Cummings, Kristin J. Less -
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.


Subject:
[+]
Acetic Acid
Adolescent
Adult
Air
Article
Asthma
Cleaner
Disinfectant
Disinfectants
Environmental Services
Eye Diseases
Female
Health Personnel
Hospitals
Humans
Hydrogen Peroxide
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Diseases
Occupational Health
Peracetic Acid
Surveys And Questionnaires
Young Adult

Source:
Am J Infect Control. 45(10):1133-1138.
Pubmed ID:
28549881
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC5685540
Document Type:
Journal Article
Funding:
CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
Place as Subject:
United States
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:ce39656dfd0425827abf328b07a4bb9cc81ef43ea9f3e006075d3893a8150573
File Type:

Supporting Files

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