Obliterative Bronchiolitis in Workers in a Coffee-Processing Facility — Texas, 2008–2012

Details

• Journal Article:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Personal Author:
  Huff, Sharon ; Stocks, James M. ; Saito, Rena ; Bilhartz, Patty ; Levin, Jeffrey ; Glazer, Craig ; Bailey, Rachel ; Cummings, Kristin ; Kreiss, Kathleen ; McCague, Anna-Binney
• Description:
  Obliterative bronchiolitis, a rare, irreversible form of fixed obstructive lung disease, has been identified in workers exposed to flavoring chemicals while working in the microwave-popcorn and flavoring-manufacturing industries; the occupational risk to workers outside these industries is largely unknown. This report describes two cases of obliterative bronchiolitis identified in workers employed in a small coffee-processing facility. Both patients' illness was misdiagnosed before they received a diagnosis of work-related obliterative bronchiolitis, which had not been identified previously in the coffee-processing industry. These cases reinforce the need for exposure evaluation in all industries in which workers are exposed to flavoring chemicals. Additionally, a high index of suspicion is required when these potentially exposed workers have progressive shortness of breath. If obliterative bronchiolitis is suspected, immediate protection from further exposure is crucial to prevent further deterioration of lung function.
• Subjects:
  Adult Bronchiolitis Obliterans Coffee Diagnostic Errors Female Flavoring Agents Food-Processing Industry Humans Male Occupational Diseases Occupational Exposure

  More +
• Source:
  MMWR Morbidity Mortal Weekly Rep. 2013; 62(16):305-307.
• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Pubmed ID:
  23615673
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC4604960
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Texas
• Pages in Document:
  3 pdf pages
• Volume:
  62
• Issue:
  16
• Collection(s):
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:bf12c6efe134c8e417543bd6661796c3a4a01c2d6e163988aa8b75c0a4c581c679f0ad15a22d7328ed054312a546912f8e1495e9c936362dc6da389c494b36d2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/59026/cdc_59026_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 126.17 KB ]