The occupational risk of Helicobacter pylori infection among workers in institutions for people with intellectual disability.
OBJECTIVE
A cross-sectional study to evaluate the occupational risk for Helicobacter pylori infection, on top of other risk factors, in staff members of institutions for people with intellectual disability. In these institutions, the residents had a documented high prevalence of H pylori infection (86% presenting antibodies). As a control group, the study used administrative workers from other companies.


METHODS
All participants completed a questionnaire concerning sociodemographic characteristics, medical history and employment data and they underwent a serology test.


RESULTS
671 staff members of the institutions and 439 subjects in the control group participated in the study. Prevalence of H pylori antibodies was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (40.6% vs 29.2%; p<0.001). Crude odds ratio for occupational risk was 1.68; adjusting for the confounding effect of age, gender, body mass index, smoking, tropical journeys and number of household members during childhood resulted in an even higher (adjusted) OR of 1.98 (95% CI 1.42 to 2.69). In multiple logistic regression analysis adjusting for variables shown to be confounders, faecal contact continued to be significantly associated with H pylori infection. Attributable risk was 49.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
H pylori infection is an occupational risk in healthcare workers working in institutions for people with intellectual disability. We identified faecal contact as an independent occupational risk factor for H pylori infection.
De Schryver
A
A
IDEWE Occupational Health Services, Interleuvenlaan 58, 3001 Leuven, Belgium. antoon.deschryver@idewe.be
Cornelis
K
K
Van Winckel
M
M
Moens
G
G
Devlies
G
G
Derthoo
D
D
van Sprundel
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors