International journal of hygiene and environmental health
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Int J Hyg Environ Health · Jan 2009
Impact of public health interventions in controlling the spread of SARS: modelling of intervention scenarios.
A variety of intervention measures exist to prevent and control diseases with pandemic potential like SARS or pandemic influenza. They differ in their approach and effectiveness in reducing the number of cases getting infected. The effects of different intervention measures were investigated by a mathematical modelling approach, with comparisons based on the effective reproduction number (R(e)). ⋯ The study emphasizes the importance of early identification and isolation of SARS cases to reduce the number of people getting infected. However, doing so transfers cases to health care facilities, making infection control measures in hospitals essential to avoid nosocomial spread. The modelling approach applied in this study is useful for analysing interactions of different intervention measures for reducing the R(e) of SARS.
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Int J Hyg Environ Health · Jan 2009
Genotoxic effects of anaesthetics in operating theatre personnel evaluated by the comet assay and micronucleus test.
Genetic damage induced by anaesthetic gases in occupationally exposed populations was investigated using the comet assay and micronucleus test. The study included two groups of subjects: 50 operating theatre medical workers (anaesthesiologists, technicians and nurses) and 50 control subjects corresponding in sex, age and smoking habit. The exposed group revealed an increase in genome damage in both tests. ⋯ Micronucleus frequency increased significantly, showing threefold increase in exposed groups (RR>3.029). Univariate analysis showed significant influence of duration of exposure, while multivariate analysis showed age to be significant predictor of micronucleus frequency. The obtained results call for further, targeted investigation of exposure risk.