The Influence of Occupational Factors on Contact Dermatitis in Symptomatic Healthcare Workers: A Patch Test Study
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are frequently exposed to a variety of chemical agents, which can result in the development of allergic or irritant contact dermatitis. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of skin sensitization among HCWs who presented with symptoms of contact dermatitis, consi...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/3/77 |
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| author | Cristiana Ferrari Giuseppina Somma Viola Giovinazzo Margherita Iarossi Michele Treglia Margherita Pallocci Luca Di Giampaolo Andrea Magrini Luca Coppeta |
| author_facet | Cristiana Ferrari Giuseppina Somma Viola Giovinazzo Margherita Iarossi Michele Treglia Margherita Pallocci Luca Di Giampaolo Andrea Magrini Luca Coppeta |
| author_sort | Cristiana Ferrari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Healthcare workers (HCWs) are frequently exposed to a variety of chemical agents, which can result in the development of allergic or irritant contact dermatitis. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of skin sensitization among HCWs who presented with symptoms of contact dermatitis, considering both occupational and non-occupational risk factors. The study population comprised 127 HCWs who attended routine occupational health surveillance at the Tor Vergata Teaching Hospital in Rome between November 2023 and May 2024. A structured dermatitis questionnaire and patch testing were administered to the participants. Demographic and lifestyle data, including information on occupation, night shift work, smoking habits, and body mass index (BMI), were collected. Patch test positivity was observed in 31.5% of participants, with the most common clinical presentation being erythematous-desquamative allergic contact dermatitis. A significantly higher likelihood of patch test positivity was observed among nurses (57.1%), particularly for nickel sensitization, compared to other occupational groups. A trend towards an association between night shift work and skin sensitization was observed, although this did not reach statistical significance. No significant associations were found for ages over 35 years, sex, or BMI. These findings highlight the elevated risk of contact sensitization among nurses, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions, including exposure reduction strategies and protective measures, to mitigate occupational skin hazards in healthcare settings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b189c6081ca1462d82aca077dc170d9a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2079-9721 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-b189c6081ca1462d82aca077dc170d9a2025-08-20T03:43:15ZengMDPI AGDiseases2079-97212025-03-011337710.3390/diseases13030077The Influence of Occupational Factors on Contact Dermatitis in Symptomatic Healthcare Workers: A Patch Test StudyCristiana Ferrari0Giuseppina Somma1Viola Giovinazzo2Margherita Iarossi3Michele Treglia4Margherita Pallocci5Luca Di Giampaolo6Andrea Magrini7Luca Coppeta8Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Occupational Medicine, University of Chieti “G. D’Annunzio”, 66013 Chieti, ItalyDepartment of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, ItalyHealthcare workers (HCWs) are frequently exposed to a variety of chemical agents, which can result in the development of allergic or irritant contact dermatitis. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of skin sensitization among HCWs who presented with symptoms of contact dermatitis, considering both occupational and non-occupational risk factors. The study population comprised 127 HCWs who attended routine occupational health surveillance at the Tor Vergata Teaching Hospital in Rome between November 2023 and May 2024. A structured dermatitis questionnaire and patch testing were administered to the participants. Demographic and lifestyle data, including information on occupation, night shift work, smoking habits, and body mass index (BMI), were collected. Patch test positivity was observed in 31.5% of participants, with the most common clinical presentation being erythematous-desquamative allergic contact dermatitis. A significantly higher likelihood of patch test positivity was observed among nurses (57.1%), particularly for nickel sensitization, compared to other occupational groups. A trend towards an association between night shift work and skin sensitization was observed, although this did not reach statistical significance. No significant associations were found for ages over 35 years, sex, or BMI. These findings highlight the elevated risk of contact sensitization among nurses, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions, including exposure reduction strategies and protective measures, to mitigate occupational skin hazards in healthcare settings.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/3/77healthcare workerspatch testskin sensitizationcontact dermatitis |
| spellingShingle | Cristiana Ferrari Giuseppina Somma Viola Giovinazzo Margherita Iarossi Michele Treglia Margherita Pallocci Luca Di Giampaolo Andrea Magrini Luca Coppeta The Influence of Occupational Factors on Contact Dermatitis in Symptomatic Healthcare Workers: A Patch Test Study Diseases healthcare workers patch test skin sensitization contact dermatitis |
| title | The Influence of Occupational Factors on Contact Dermatitis in Symptomatic Healthcare Workers: A Patch Test Study |
| title_full | The Influence of Occupational Factors on Contact Dermatitis in Symptomatic Healthcare Workers: A Patch Test Study |
| title_fullStr | The Influence of Occupational Factors on Contact Dermatitis in Symptomatic Healthcare Workers: A Patch Test Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Influence of Occupational Factors on Contact Dermatitis in Symptomatic Healthcare Workers: A Patch Test Study |
| title_short | The Influence of Occupational Factors on Contact Dermatitis in Symptomatic Healthcare Workers: A Patch Test Study |
| title_sort | influence of occupational factors on contact dermatitis in symptomatic healthcare workers a patch test study |
| topic | healthcare workers patch test skin sensitization contact dermatitis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/3/77 |
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