Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research-Monash Health Partnership, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
Am J Infect Control. 2019 Aug;47(8):933-937. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2019.01.006. Epub 2019 Feb 12.
Health service hand hygiene programs have seen widespread use of chlorhexidine solutions. Reports of both immediate and delayed hypersensitivity to chlorhexidine are increasing among health care workers. This study examined the prevalence of self-reported symptoms of sensitivity to chlorhexidine solutions among health care workers.
This study was a cross-sectional online anonymous survey of all workers at a single health service.
Of the 1,050 completed responses, 76.3% were female, 35.3% were nurses and midwives, 28% were medical staff, and 8.7% were working in nonclinical areas. Over 95% used chlorhexidine-based hand hygiene products in their workplace. Nurses and midwives most frequently reported asthma (13.7%), contact dermatitis (27.8%), and previous testing for allergy to chlorhexidine (4.9%). There was a correlation between both the presence of atopy, eczema, or dermatitis and the self-reporting of dry skin, eczema, or dermatitis attributed to chlorhexidine use.
Occupational chlorhexidine allergy is an important risk to health care workers. Self-reported symptoms of sensitivity to chlorhexidine solutions revealed high reported use and presence of skin symptoms among health care workers.
Screening programs need to identify nurses who develop chlorhexidine sensitivity due to occupational exposure. Strategies to mitigate risk should provide alternatives for those with sensitization.
卫生服务机构的手部卫生计划已经广泛使用洗必泰溶液。医护人员中越来越多地报告对洗必泰有即刻和迟发性过敏反应。本研究检查了医护人员对洗必泰溶液敏感性的自我报告症状的流行情况。
这是一项针对单一卫生服务机构所有工作人员的横断面在线匿名调查。
在 1050 份完成的回复中，76.3%为女性，35.3%为护士和助产士，28%为医务人员，8.7%在非临床区域工作。超过 95%的人在工作场所使用基于洗必泰的手部卫生产品。护士和助产士最常报告哮喘（13.7%）、接触性皮炎（27.8%）和之前对洗必泰过敏的测试（4.9%）。特应性、湿疹或皮炎的存在与因使用洗必泰而导致的皮肤干燥、湿疹或皮炎的自我报告之间存在相关性。
职业性洗必泰过敏对医护人员是一个重要的健康风险。对洗必泰溶液敏感性的自我报告症状表明，医护人员报告的洗必泰溶液使用率高，且存在皮肤症状。
筛查计划需要识别因职业接触而对洗必泰产生敏感性的护士。对于致敏者，应采取减轻风险的策略提供替代方案。
