[Health education on occupational risks: a target not yet achieved? Workers' opinions collected via a questionnaire].

Introduction: This study collected the opinions of sample of workers, sent to the Department of Occupational Medicine of Brescia Civil Hospital, on the contents and the methods used for carrying out information programs on the occupational risks in their workplaces.

Methods: A questionnaire including three sections has been prepared: in the first section demographic data and information on the job were collected, in the second section the contents of programs on the prevention of occupational risks were evaluated, the third section investigated how these programs have been performed.

Results: 250 workers have been examined; 16 self-employed workers have been excluded.

Occupational diseases due to allergic and toxic chemicals in health care workers: fitness for work.

The purpose of this review is to suggest job fitness criteria for health care workers exposed to sensitizing or chemical agents. These recommendations are derived from a comparison between previous documents on prevention and management of allergic and chemical risks in health care settings and updated evidence; the job fitness criteria and the main documents on these topics are summarized in tables. Glove allergy, in particular latex allergy, is still a significant problem but we should remember that a wide choice of alternative materials is now easily available; many different alternative health products are also currently available when an allergy to disinfectants or detergents is diagnosed.

[Management of occupational dermatitis. Nine years' experience].

Objectives: To evaluate management problems concerning 301 workers with occupational dermatitis (OD) referred to the Occupational Health Institute of Brescia in the period 2000-2008.

Methods: We considered gender, age, job, referring physicians, diagnosis, latency between the onset of symptoms and the etiological diagnosis, examinations and tests performed before referral to our Institute.

Results: We diagnosed 168 cases of allergic contact dermatitis, 101 cases of irritant contact dermatitis and 32 other forms of dermatitis.

[Consensus Document. Update on latex exposure and use of gloves in Italian health care settings].

This consensus document was prepared by an Italian working group including occupational health professionals involved for many years in the management of glove- and latex-related problems in health care settings. The aim of this document was to address the most significant technical, epidemiological, clinical, environmental and prevention problems related to the use of gloves and latex. The group's recommendations are based on scientific evidence and practical experience but they cannot be considered as final.

[Old and new types of sanitary gloves: what has improved?].

Background: During the eighties a large increase in latex gloves production was observed because of the high demand of gloves in health care settings. In this period a low compliance to minimal quality standard was detected and the poor glove quality was associated with an increase of both irritant and allergic glove-related diseases. Since the second half of nineties health care workers and manufacturers paid more attention to these problems and a trend to a gradual, even if slow, quality improvement was observed.

[Latex exposure and gloves' use in health settings: old and new issues].

The diffusion of the "universal precautions", promoted in 1987 by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, dramatically increased the use of latex glove in health care settings for protection against the HIV and HBV. The increased demand caused an increased production of gloves, a reduction in processing time and a different chemical treatment of rubber trees which lowered the glove quality, that means high levels of antigens and high powder content. This situation caused an increase of frequency of allergic (type I and type IV) and irritant reactions to latex gloves in health care workers.

[Interactions between alcohol and work exposure to chemical substances].

Background And Objectives: The quite diffused habit of a significant assumption of alcohol drinks, can interfere with the professional exposure to chemical substances. The interaction may result in increasing their toxicity and/or modifying the parameters of the biological monitoring. It may also act as a confounding factor, not only in epidemiologic researches but also at individual level when the assessment of the occupational exposure and/or the diagnosis of an occupational diseases, is under consideration.

[Implementation of a health education programme in a sample of hairdressing trainees].

Background: Skin and respiratory diseases and upper limb cumulative trauma disorders are common in practising hairdressers but unfortunately also in hairdressing trainees. Recent data showed that prevention by education in this working area is of fundamental importance.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge that hairdressing trainees have of the risks present in their workplaces and to apply and verify, the efficacy of a specific educational programm

Methods: The programme was aimed at hairdressing trainees, aged from 15 to 21 years, attending 3 technical schools.

From clinical activities to didactics and research in occupational medicine.

Background: The daily practice of Occupational Physicians in the mot industrialized countries suggests that the frequency of traditional occupational diseases is progressively lowering, their gravity is decreasing, and the etiological factors are changing. This trend should be quantitatively and qualitatively verified with ad hoc studies. The information is particularly relevant for Academic Institutions where medical students and residents in occupational medicine are trained.

Fitness for work in difficult cases: an occupational medicine experience in a University Hospital.

Background: Fitness for work (FW) in certain clinical cases poses significant professional challenges for Occupational Physicians (OPs).

Objectives: to discuss the role of a public Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) in FW, thorough description of clinical cases.

Methods: the IOM at the University of Brescia is a public clinic available to general practitioners, OPs, other specialists, insurance companies, health authorities, employers, trade unions.

Prevention of latex allergy among health care workers and in the general population: latex protein content in devices commonly used in hospitals and general practice.

Background: In this study the latex protein content in devices commonly used in hospitals and general practice were investigated. The main aim was to acquire information for preventing latex allergy in health care workers and in the general population.

Methods: About 22 different types of medical devices and 23 devices commonly used in general practice were examined evaluating the total allergenic potency by a modified RAST-inhibition assay and quantitative determination of single allergens (Hev b1, Hev b5 and Hev b6.

[Cardiopathy caused by physical or chemical agents].

Background: Occupational cardiovascular diseases do not possess any specific clinical and physiopathogenetic features.

Objectives: The paper summarizes the results of the most recent studies on chemical and physical cardiovascular risks, and assesses the current degree of risk for occupational cardiovascular disease.

Methods: Scientific literature and medline databases on this topic were carefully considered.

Prevention of latex allergy among health care workers: evaluation of the extractable latex protein content in different types of medical gloves.

Background: Since the 1980s, there has been increased use of latex gloves by health care workers and a concomitant increase of irritant and allergic reactions. The total protein content and the latex allergenic protein content in different types of medical gloves commonly used in our hospital were evaluated to acquire information useful for preventing latex allergy in our hospital personnel.

Methods: The total protein content and the allergic latex protein contents were evaluated with Lowry modified method and RAST inhibition assay in samples and extracts of 29 different types of medical gloves.