International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health
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Int J Occup Med Environ Health · Apr 2013
Observance of hand washing procedures performed by the medical personnel after the patient contact. Part II.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) state that adequate hand hygiene maintained by medical personnel is an indispensable prerequisite for controlling nosocomial infections. The recommendations of CDC and WHO emphasize the obligation to wash hands after each contact with a patient, after the exposure to a potentially infectious material or upon the contact with objects surrounding the patient. ⋯ Both the level of observance of hygienic procedures after the contact with patients as well as the time of hand washing are insufficient. There is an urgent need to work out educational programs on maintaining proper hand hygiene for medical personnel.
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Int J Occup Med Environ Health · Mar 2013
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyObservance of hand washing procedures performed by the medical personnel before patient contact. Part I.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, medical staff are obliged to decontaminate the skin of the hands before every single patient contact. ⋯ The level of observance of hand washing procedures among the medical staff prior to the patient contact appears to be alarmingly below the expectations.
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Int J Occup Med Environ Health · Sep 2012
Work-related health emergency cases due to hydrofluoric acid exposures reported to Texas poison centers.
Hydrofluoric acid is used in a number of industries. Work-related accidents involving hydrofluoric acid can result in serious injury and death. The intent of this investigation was to describe work-related hydrofluoric acid exposures in Texas. ⋯ Hydrofluoric acid exposures reported to Texas poison centers decreased over the eleven-year period. The patients were almost all adults and primarily male. Most of the exposures occurred by dermal contact followed by inhalation. The majority of patients were managed at healthcare facilities. Slightly over half of the exposures were known or expected to not result in serious outcomes.
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Int J Occup Med Environ Health · Sep 2012
Case ReportsAnosmia after exposure to a pyrethrin-based insecticide: a case report.
We present the case of a subject developing anosmia, preceded by nasal transient irritation and short lasting phantosmia and torqosmia, upon re-entrance into a room treated with a pyrethrin-based insecticide. The concentration of the insecticide in the room is unknown, but relatively high levels are predicted basing upon the modality of exposure and by the irritation symptoms in the subject. ⋯ The significance of this case report is related to the current wide use of insecticides containing pyrethrin and pyrethroids and highlights the need for more adequate attention to lowering airborne concentrations of pyrethrins and pyrethroids prior to re-entering the treated rooms. In particular, in a closed space sprayed with pyrethrins and pyrethroids insecticide, any irritant symptoms and/or dysosmia should be immediately considered relevant warning signs, and must be avoided.