الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 144 |  |  |
| | | from | 144 | | |
Abstract
This study was carried out from the beginning of February,
2023 to the end of March 2024. It was conducted in eight (8) surgical
operations’ rooms (general surgery, ophthalmology, ENT, urology and
cardiothoracic surgery) and endoscopy units (gastroenterologygynecology and orthopedic surgery) of Menoufia university
hospitals.All HCWs exposed to glutaraldehyde at operations’ rooms
and endoscopy units at Menoufia University Hospitals were invited to
participate in this study. One hundred and ten (110) workers were
recruited in the study after exclusion of non-respondents (6 workers)
and workers who were employed for less than one year, having a
history of chronic respiratory or dermatological conditions before
working in the current work, pregnant or having chronic disease (12
workers). An equal number of health care workers (110) at Menoufia
University Hospitals who were not occupationally exposed to
glutaraldehyde were chosen as a control group. They were matched
for age, sex and socio-demographic characteristics with the exposed
group.
All participants were interviewed using a predesigned
questionnaire about respiratory and dermatological manifestations.
Also, they were examined generally and locally for chest and skin.
Spirometry was carried out for both glutaraldehyde exposed group and
controls aiming to assess Spiro-metric measurements. In addition to
environmental checklist to evaluate some workplace safety measures.
The following results were obtained:
- Respiratory manifestations as rhinitis, cough, wheezes, dyspnea
and asthma were significantly more prevalent among the GA
exposed HCWs than the controls. The prevalence of wheezes and
asthma was significantly increased with the increase in work
duration among the GA exposed HCWs. Also, there was a
significant higher prevalence of cough among smoker GA exposed
HCWs than non-smokers.
- Regarding the mean values of spirometric measurements there
were significant lower mean values of FVC%, FEV1%, PEF% and
FEF25-75% among GA exposed HCWs than the control group.
Abnormal spirometric measurements took obstructive, restrictive
and combined patterns.
- Concerning gluteraldehyde gases and vapours’ splashes exposure,
the prevalence of rhinitis and cough were higher while the mean
values of FVC%, FEV1%, PEF% and FEF25-75were lower in
exposed HCWs.
- On studying effect of ventilation the prevalence of rhinitis and
dyspnea were higher also the mean values of PEF% and FEF25-75%
were lower in HCWs worked at bad ventilated environment.
- The mean values of FVC% and FEV1% were lower in HCWs who
did not use a specific area for disinfection with limiting access
- The mean values of FVC%, FEV1% and FEF25-75% were lower in
HCWs who did not use closed container for GA solution.
- The dermatological manifestations dermatitis, itching, dryness and
color change were significantly more prevalent among GA exposed
HCWs than the control group.
- There were higher prevalence of dermatitis and dryness among
HCWs exposed to gluteraldehyde splashes.