Cleaning agent usage in healthcare professionals and relationship to lung and skin symptoms

Abstract

Background and objectives

Healthcare workers have an increased risk of respiratory symptoms and dermatitis, likely related to cleaning/disinfecting agents. The aim of this study was to identify work tasks and cleaning/disinfecting agents associated with respiratory symptoms and hand dermatitis among healthcare workers in a tertiary hospital.

Methods

Cleaning agent usage, respiratory symptoms and skin symptoms were recorded by participants using a questionnaire in a cross-sectional study. Age and sex adjusted odds ratios (OR) were used to examine associations between job tasks, exposures, respiratory, and skin outcomes.

Results

Two hundred and thirty healthcare workers who were exposed to cleaning agents were compared with 77 who had no, or minimal, exposure. Exposed workers had an increased risk of respiratory symptoms (adjusted OR = 2.17; 95% CI: 1.18–4.14) and skin symptoms (adjusted OR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.00 − 3.17). Washing instruments manually, using aerosol products, cleaning operating rooms, cleaning sanitary rooms, preparing disinfectants, and filling devices with cleaning products were cleaning tasks associated with various respiratory symptoms. Bleach was the only cleaning agent associated with a respiratory symptom: tightness in the chest (unadjusted OR = 2.46; 95% CI: 1.01–6.89) but statistical significance did not persist after adjustment for age and sex. Hand dermatitis was associated with actual disinfecting tasks (adjusted OR = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.10–4.66). Bleach was the only cleaning agent significantly associated with hand dermatitis (adjusted OR = 2.54; 95% CI: 1.32–5.13).

Conclusions

This study provides insight into possible work tasks that need interventions to reduce or prevent respiratory and skin symptoms in healthcare workers.

Keywords:

• Occupational asthma
• respiratory symptoms
• hand dermatitis
• cleaning agents
• healthcare workers
• cleaning tasks
• workplace exposures

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was supported by the Center for Research Expertise in Occupational Diseases summer student award supported by the Ontario Ministry of Labor.