title: Penicillin dust exposure and penicillin resistance among pharmaceutical workers in Tehran, Iran.
abstract: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) adversely impacts the prevention and treatment of a wide range of infections and is considered as a serious threat to global public health. Occupational-related AMR is a neglected area of research.
  
  
  
  To assess exposure to penicillin dust, penicillin active materials, and to report the frequency of penicillin resistance among pharmaceutical workers in Tehran, Iran.
  
  
  
  A quasi-experimental study was conducted among workers on a penicillin production line in a pharmaceutical company (n = 60) and workers in a food producing company (n = 60). Data were collected via survey, air sampling, and throat swab.
  
  
  
  The mean overall concentrations of penicillin dust and penicillin active material were 6.6 and 4.3 mg/m3, respectively, in the pharmaceutical industry. Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) was detected in 45% (27) individuals in the exposed group, 92.6% of which showed penicillin resistance. Resistance was significantly higher among workers in penicillin production line (p = 0.014).
  
  
  
  High level of AMR among workers in penicillin production line is a health risk for the workers as well as society as a whole through the spread of drug resistant micro-organisms.
authors.affiliation: a Occupational Health Research Center (OHRC) , Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Asghar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Farshad
authors.affiliation: a Occupational Health Research Center (OHRC) , Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enferadi
authors.affiliation: a Occupational Health Research Center (OHRC) , Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Shahnaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bakand
authors.affiliation: a Occupational Health Research Center (OHRC) , Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Rouhangiz
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jamshidi Orak
authors.affiliation: b Hooman Research Collaborators Institute , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Roksana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mirkazemi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004345:Drug Industry; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D010406:Penicillins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004391:Dust; D010406:Penicillins
keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Iran; Penicillin dust; Pharmaceutical industry