Healthcare workers and skin sensitization: north-eastern Italian database.
BACKGROUND
Working in healthcare is regarded as a risk factor for occupational skin disease. Workers are exposed to disinfectants, soaps, detergents and latex and need to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between healthcare work and patch test reactions to various potential sensitizers in a population of contact dermatitis patients in various dermatology and occupational medicine units in north-eastern Italy.


METHODS
Patients with suspected allergic dermatitis underwent patch testing. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted by age and sex, were calculated for healthcare workers (HCWs), using white-collar workers as control group.


RESULTS
HCWs represented 14% of the sample of 19088 patients (68% women, 32% men). Among HCWs, both sexes had a higher risk of developing hand/forearm dermatitis (females: OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.8-2.5; males: OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.3-2.1). HCWs had an increased risk of sensitization to formaldehyde (OR 1.65; 95% CI 1.2-2.3) and to p-phenylenediamine (OR 1.6; CI 1.1-2.3).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests a significant association between healthcare work, hand/forearm dermatitis and sensitization to formaldehyde and p-phenylenediamine.
Clinical Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Trieste, Trieste I-34129, Italy, andrea.prodi@gmail.com.
A
A
Prodi
Clinical Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Trieste, Trieste I-34129, Italy.
F
F
Rui
Institute of Dermatology, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy.
A B
AB
Fortina
Dermatology Unit, Santa Maria degli Angeli Hospital, 33170 Pordenone, Italy.
M T
MT
Corradin
Clinical Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Trieste, Trieste I-34129, Italy.
F Larese
FL
Filon
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens; D001132:Arm; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006225:Hand; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007840:Latex / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010328:Patch Tests; D010655:Phenylenediamines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012915:Soaps / Q000009:adverse effects; D014937:Work
D000485:Allergens; D004202:Disinfectants; D007840:Latex; D010655:Phenylenediamines; D012915:Soaps; D005557:Formaldehyde; C029728:4-phenylenediamine
Dermatitis; healthcare workers; occupational skin disease; patch test.