Kumbhar Vijaya R, Geddugol Seema B
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) College of Nursing, Pune, IND.
Cureus. 2025 Mar 3;17(3):e79994. doi: 10.7759/cureus.79994. eCollection 2025 Mar.
Cleaning and disinfection, particularly to reduce the risk of infection, constitute a significant portion of the work performed by medical personnel and other staff in hospital environments. In addition to the routine housekeeping tasks carried out by cleaning staff, these duties may involve medical specialists such as radiographers, respiratory therapists, physiotherapists, nurses, and class D workers responsible for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and equipment. Various chemicals can be used for these tasks, including hydrogen peroxide, bleach, chlorine, and bacillocid. This study focused on estimating the prevalence of health effects of disinfectant exposure on physiological parameters among class D workers in selected hospitals in Sangli, Maharashtra.
An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using a quantitative descriptive approach between April 2024 and July 2024. A total of 270 participants were selected through a non-probability purposive sampling technique from the chosen hospitals, ensuring adherence to all ethical considerations. Data were collected using a disinfectant health effects on physiological parameters assessment checklist and a demographic information sheet for participants. After providing comprehensive details about the study, informed consent was obtained from all participants. The analysis was conducted using frequency and percentage distributions.
Out of 270 class D workers, the survey found that 45.56% (123) of the participants reported having a sore nose due to hydrogen peroxide disinfectant exposure, 42.59% (115) reported throat irritation from glutaraldehyde disinfectant exposure, 40% (108) reported a persistent cough from sodium hypochlorite exposure, 37.4% (101) reported headaches from isopropyl alcohol disinfectant exposure, and 45.92% (124) reported eye irritation from benzalkonium chloride disinfectant exposure. Additionally, 59.62% (161) experienced skin irritation due to exposure to orthophthalaldehyde, and 58.15% (157) experienced nasal issues due to the bacillocid solution. Furthermore, 29.26% (79) experienced throat irritation from exposure to hypochlorite disinfectants, 44.05% (119) experienced nausea due to choline exposure, and 50.74% (137) experienced nausea from bleach solution exposure for more than six hours during their previous five years of employment.
The study concluded that most class D workers in Sangli hospitals experienced physical health effects, including irritation of the throat, nose, upper respiratory tract, eyes, and skin, as well as nausea. Identifying optimal practices to minimize worker exposure while ensuring patient safety is crucial. Based on the present study's findings, hospital managers should develop safety resources, conduct educational campaigns, and provide class D employees with the necessary training to manage disinfectant exposure effectively.
清洁和消毒，尤其是为了降低感染风险，是医院环境中医护人员和其他工作人员工作的重要组成部分。除了清洁人员执行的日常保洁任务外，这些职责可能还涉及医学专家，如放射技师、呼吸治疗师、物理治疗师、护士以及负责清洁和消毒表面及设备的D级工作人员。可使用多种化学物质来完成这些任务，包括过氧化氢、漂白剂、氯和杆菌肽。本研究聚焦于估算马哈拉施特拉邦桑利选定医院中D级工作人员因接触消毒剂对生理参数产生健康影响的患病率。
采用定量描述性方法，于2024年4月至2024年7月进行了一项分析性横断面研究。通过非概率目的抽样技术从选定医院中选取了270名参与者，确保遵循所有伦理考量。使用消毒剂对生理参数健康影响评估清单和参与者人口信息表收集数据。在提供有关研究的全面详细信息后，获得了所有参与者的知情同意。分析采用频率和百分比分布进行。
在270名D级工作人员中，调查发现45.56%（123人）的参与者报告因接触过氧化氢消毒剂而出现鼻子酸痛，42.59%（115人）报告因接触戊二醛消毒剂而出现喉咙刺激，40%（108人）报告因接触次氯酸钠而出现持续性咳嗽，37.4%（101人）报告因接触异丙醇消毒剂而出现头痛，45.92%（12人）报告因接触苯扎氯铵消毒剂而出现眼睛刺激。此外，59.62%（161人）因接触邻苯二甲醛而出现皮肤刺激，58.15%（157人）因接触杆菌肽溶液而出现鼻腔问题。此外，29.26%（79人）因接触次氯酸盐消毒剂而出现喉咙刺激，44.05%（119人）因接触胆碱而出现恶心，50.74%（137人）在过去五年工作期间因接触漂白剂溶液超过六小时而出现恶心。
该研究得出结论，桑利医院的大多数D级工作人员都经历了身体健康影响，包括喉咙痛、鼻子不适、上呼吸道刺激、眼睛和皮肤刺激以及恶心。确定在确保患者安全的同时尽量减少工作人员接触的最佳做法至关重要。根据本研究结果，医院管理人员应开发安全资源、开展教育活动，并为D级员工提供有效管理消毒剂接触所需的培训。
