title: Health care worker exposure to aerosolized ribavirin: biological and air monitoring.
abstract: Aerosolized ribavirin is administered frequently to treat severe respiratory syncytial virus infections. The drug's potential reproductive effects in occupationally exposed workers remains a concern among health care workers. In this evaluation, we measured urinary ribavirin concentrations in occupationally exposed health care workers. Ribavirin was detected in 16 of 26 (62%) post-work-shift urine samples that had been provided by nurses, and in five of 22 (23%) post-work-shift urine samples that had been provided by respiratory therapists (range, < 0.01 to 0.22 mumol/L). We also measured airborne ribavirin concentrations in the personal breathing zones of nurses. Ventilators and other administration units that were enclosed by an aerosol containment tent produced significantly lower airborne ribavirin exposures than administration units without a containment tent did (range, < 2.5 to 78 micrograms/m3). On the basis of this and other evaluations of airborne ribavirin concentrations, we recommend using aerosol containment systems with all types of ribavirin administration units except mechanical ventilators.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surveillance, Health Evaluations and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Shults
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Deitchman
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Connor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols / Q000009:adverse effects; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000652:urine; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000652:urine; D012494:Sampling Studies; D016482:Urinalysis
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin