title: Personal protective equipment, hygiene behaviours and occupational risk of illness after July 2011 flood in Copenhagen, Denmark.
abstract: Incidence of various diseases can increase following a flood. We aimed to identify professionals in Copenhagen who became ill after contact with 2 July 2011 floodwater/sediment and determine risks and protective factors associated with illness. We conducted a cohort study of employees engaged in post-flood management activities. Participants completed a questionnaire collecting information about demographics, floodwater/sediment exposure, compliance with standard precautions, and symptoms of illness. Overall, 257 professionals participated, with 56 (22%) cases. Risk of illness was associated with not washing hands after floodwater/sediment contact [relative risk (RR) 2∙45], exposure to floodwater at work and home (RR 2∙35), smoking (RR 1∙92), direct contact with floodwater (RR 1∙86), and eating/drinking when in contact with floodwater (RR 1∙77). Professionals need to follow standard precautions when in contact with floodwater/sediment, especially proper hand hygiene after personal protective equipment use and before eating/drinking and smoking.
authors.affiliation: European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden. Oktawia.P.Wojcik@gmail.com
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Wójcik
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kjerulf
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ethelberg
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mølbak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D055868:Floods; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors