Prevalence of changes in performance, subjective symptoms and occupational dermatitis before and after carrying out improvements in the surgical block of the Modena Polyclinic
Pietrantonio, A.M.; Barbani, F.; Anania, A.V.; Bertolani, L.; Saccani, C.
Giornale Italiano di Medicina del Lavoro 14(1-6): 79-82
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0391-9889 PMID: 1345726 Document Number: 392526
The Preventive Medicine Unit for Personnel in the USL N. 16 of Modena has conducted a study to evaluate the prevalence of subjective symptoms and professional dermatitis among nurses working in a general surgery operating theatre of the Modena "Policlinico" Hospital (36 and 41 employees were studied respectively in 1990 and 1991), before and after the installation of gas evacuators and a modification in the use of detergent and disinfectant substances. The study demonstrates that installation of gas evacuating systems, if not supported by an intervention of air-conditioning plant, does not sufficiently reduce alterations in subjective symptoms. On the other hand, the modifications in the use of detergent and disinfectants has demonstrated a favourable reduction in the prevalence of professional dermatitis (from 43% to 18%; chi2 = 4.35, p = 0.037).