Occupational hazards, health conditions and personal protective equipment used among healthcare workers in hospitals, Thailand.

This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate occupational hazards, health conditions and personal protective equipment used among healthcare workers. Information from the sample size of 1,128 healthcare workers were collected using questionnaires. The healthcare workers participated in this study were from five departments including inpatient, outpatient, surgery and anesthesia, nutrition service and hospital support services departments in five hospitals in Thailand.

HEALTH STATUS, ENVIRONMENTAL LIVING CONDITIONS AND MICROBIAL INDOOR AIR QUALITY AMONG MIGRANT WORKER HOUSEHOLDS IN THAILAND.

A large number of migrants have move to cities in Thailand seeking employment. These people may be at increased risk for environmental health problems. We studied the health status, environmental living conditions and microbial indoor air quality (IAQ) among selected groups of migrant workers and their households in Mueang District, Samut Sakhon, central Thailand.

Occupational Hazards in the Thai Healthcare Sector.

Healthcare personnel work in vulnerable conditions that can adversely impact physical and/or mental health. This paper aims to synthesize the state of knowledge on work-related illnesses, injuries, and risks experienced by Thai healthcare workers. We found that Thai healthcare personnel, like others worldwide, are at risk for injury related to needle sticks and sharp instruments; infectious diseases due to biological hazards exposure such as airborne pathogens and patient secretions; muscle pain due to workload and long duration of work; and psychological disorders related to stressful working conditions.

Microbial air quality and bacterial surface contamination in ambulances during patient services.

Objectives: We sought to assess microbial air quality and bacterial surface contamination on medical instruments and the surrounding areas among 30 ambulance runs during service.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 106 air samples collected from 30 ambulances before patient services and 212 air samples collected during patient services to assess the bacterial and fungal counts at the two time points. Additionally, 226 surface swab samples were collected from medical instrument surfaces and the surrounding areas before and after ambulance runs.

Occupational risk towards blood-borne infections among ambulance personnel in a provincial hospital network in Thailand.

Health-care personnel working in an ambulance may be at risk for work-related infections, especially blood-borne infections. This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess occupational risks and their preventive practices for blood-borne infections among ambulance personnel working in a provincial hospital network. One hundred sixty-one personnel who voluntarily participated were interviewed using a structured questionnaire.

Microbial Contamination on Used Surgical Masks among Hospital Personnel and Microbial Air Quality in their Working Wards: A Hospital in Bangkok.

Objective: To assess the relationship of bacterial and fungal contamination on used surgical masks worn by the hospital personnel and microbial air quality in their working wards.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 230 used surgical masks collected from 214 hospital personnel, and 215 indoor air samples collected from their working wards to culture for bacterial and fungal counts. This study was carried out at the hospital in Bangkok.

Laboratory facility design and microbial indoor air quality in selected hospital laboratories.

Hospital laboratory is one of workplace areas contaminated with a variety of biohazards. A cross sectional study was conducted to assess the microbial air quality and facility design in the laboratories of four selected governmental hospitals (Hospitals A, B, C, and D) in Bangkok, Thailand. One hundred eighty-eight indoor air samples were collected from 40 laboratory rooms to investigate bacterial and fungal counts using the Millipore air tester.

Factors associated with hepatitis C infection among patients with skin diseases.

Objective: The present study attempted to assess factors associated with positive anti-HCV among patients with skin diseases.

Material And Method: A retrospective analysis of 3,496 subjects' history profiles from the HCV antibody surveillance projects performed from 2000 to 2007. Only 150 subject profiles with skin diseases were included in the analysis of factors associated with positive anti-HCV Patient profiles including socio-demographic parameters, the main risk behavior or risk exposure, types of skin diseases, anti-HIV status, and results of anti-HCV were analyzed using Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test.

Microbial counts and particulate matter levels in indoor air samples collected from a child home-care center in Bangkok, Thailand.

Objective: To assess the microbial count (bacteria and fungi) and particulate matter with sizes less than 10 microm (PM10) level in indoor air of a child home-care center in Bangkok.

Material And Method: A total of 287 air samples were collected from the indoor air of twenty households which were part of a child home-care center to assess bacterial and fungal counts (212 samples) and PM10 levels (66 samples). Additionally, fifty-two and twenty-six outdoor air samples were collected to compare microbial count and PMo10 levels.

Hepatitis B seromarkers, hepatitis C antibody, and risk behaviors in married couples, a bordered province of western Thailand: Hepatitis B seromarkers, hepatitis C antibody, and risk behaviors.

Background: Married couples constitute a target group for reducing the risk of infections with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Objectives: This study attempted to assess HBV seromarkers, anti-HCV-positive rates, and risk behaviors among married couples in a bordered province of western Thailand.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study of 114 married couples aged 15-44 years was performed.

Microbial counts and particulate matter levels in roadside air samples under skytrain stations, Bangkok, Thailand.

In conditions with heavy traffic and crowds of people on roadside areas under skytrain stations in Bangkok, the natural air ventilation may be insufficient and air quality may be poor. A study of 350 air samples collected from the roadside, under skytrain stations in Bangkok, was carried out to assess microbial counts (210 air samples) and particulate matter (PM10) levels (140 samples). The results reveal the mean +/- standard deviation bacterial counts and fungal counts were 406.

Health responsibilities of an aging Thai male workforce.

Objective: To examine the health responsibilities of an aging Thai male workforce and its related factors.

Material And Method: A descriptive study was conducted with 417 male workers aged 45-60 who were working in 4 regions of Thailand. Data were collected between October 2004 and February 2005 using self-administered questionnaires.

Microbial air quality and standard precaution practice in a hospital dental clinic.

Objective: A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess standard precaution practices among dental personnel and to investigate microbial counts in indoor air samples collected from a hospital dental clinic before and during dental works.

Material And Method: Thirty dental personnel who voluntarily participated were interviewed using a questionnaire towards demographic information and standard precaution practices between May and August 2007. Additionally, 138 indoor air samples (72 from dental treatment units, 48 from dental supporting units and offices and 18 from patient waiting area) were collected before and during dental works for 6 days (Monday to Saturday) to investigate bacterial and fungal counts.

Incidence and risk factors for nosocomial pneumonia among intubated patients in a provincial hospital, Eastern Thailand.

The present study was conducted to determine the incidence and risk factors for nosocomial pneumonia (NP) among intubated patients in a provincial hospital, eastern Thailand. Three hundred five intubated patients who voluntarily participated and signed informed consent were observed and medical records were collected. The respiratory secretion specimens from NP patients, diagnosed by doctors under the definition of the International Statistical Classification of Disease and Related Health Problems Tenth Revision (ICD-10), were collected for bacterial culture.

Factors related to health-promoting behaviors among Thai middle-aged men.

Objective: To study factors related to health promoting behaviors of Thai middle-aged men.

Study Design: Descriptive research.

Material And Method: Nine hundred and five Thai males, aged between 40-59 years, living in six provinces of Thailand, were selected by multi-stage random sampling.

Risk behaviors and life skills towards sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections among Thai married couples.

Objective: A cross-sectional study of 706 couples or 1,412 individuals with age 15-44 years was carried out to assess risk behaviors, life skill level, and its relationship, and to investigate HBV seromarkers, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV among individuals who voluntarily participated in blood screening.

Material And Method: All studied participants who voluntarily participated and signed consents were interviewed about risk behaviors and life skills. Only 166 individuals voluntarily participated in blood screening for HBVseromarkers, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV RESULTS: The results revealed that, of 1,412 individuals, 15.

Hepatitis B virus sero-markers, hepatitis C virus antibody and risk behaviors among middle age and older Thai males.

A cross-sectional study of 1069 Thai males over 40 years of age was carried out to assess risk behaviors towards hepatitis B and C. All studied participants who voluntarily participated and signed informed consents were interviewed. One hundred eighty-seven volunteers participated in blood screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) sero-markers and anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV).

Nosocomial surgical site infection among Photharam Hospital patients with surgery: incidence, risk factors and development of risk screening form.

Objective: A cross-sectional analytic study of 268 patients who received surgery at Photharam Hospital was conducted to assess the incidence and risk factors of nosocomial surgical site infection (SSI).

Material And Method: The studied patients who voluntarily participated and signed informed consents were interviewed Pus specimens from SSI patients diagnosed by use of CDC criteria were cultured After risk factor analysis, the risk screening form was developed and calculated by the Receiving Operating Curve.

Results: The results revealed that incidence of nosocomial SSI was 20.

Improving microbial air quality in air-conditioned mass transport buses by opening the bus exhaust ventilation fans.

The air quality in air-conditioned mass transport buses may affect bus drivers' health. In-bus air quality improvement with the voluntary participation of bus drivers by opening the exhaust ventilation fans in the bus was implemented in the Seventh Bus Zone of Bangkok Mass Transit Authority. Four bus numbers, including bus numbers 16, 63, 67 and 166, were randomly selected to investigate microbial air quality and to observe the effect of opening the exhaust ventilation fans in the bus.

Risk assessment towards tuberculosis among hospital personnel: administrative control, risk exposure, use of protective barriers and microbial air quality.

A recent increase in the rate of tuberculosis among hospital personnel has led to a greater concern about the risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission in the hospital. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the risk of tuberculosis infection among hospital personnel of a governmental hospital in Bangkok by applying hospital tuberculosis control strategies, including administrative control, risk exposure, use of protective barriers when in contact with TB patients, and microbial air quality in the studied wards. Fourteen members of the infection control committee (ICC) and 118 hospital personnel were interviewed regarding the infection control policy and its implementation.

Microbial air quality in mass transport buses and work-related illness among bus drivers of Bangkok Mass Transit Authority.

The air quality in mass transport buses, especially air-conditioned buses may affect bus drivers who work full time. Bus numbers 16, 63, 67 and 166 of the Seventh Bus Zone of Bangkok Mass Transit Authority were randomly selected to investigate for microbial air quality. Nine air-conditioned buses and 2-4 open-air buses for each number of the bus (36 air-conditioned buses and 12 open-air buses) were included.

Hepatitis C virus infection among Thai blood donors: antibody prevalence, risk factors and development of risk screening form.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important blood-borne infection in many countries, including Thailand. For epidemiological surveillance and controlling the infection, 2167 blood donors were screened for antibody to HCV by an enzyme immunoassay method and interviewed by using a structured questionnaire which consisted of personal health history and some risk behaviors. The prevalence and risk factors were assessed and the risk screening form was developed.

Sero-epidemiological study of hepatitis A virus infection among hill-tribe youth and household environmental sanitation, a hill-tribe community in northern Thailand.

A cross-sectional analytic study of 190 hill-tribe youth in a community in the north of Thailand was conducted to investigate the sero-prevalence of HAV and factors related to positive anti-HAV antibody. The studied youth, whose ages ranged from 15 to 24 years, were interviewed about socio-economic status and personal hygiene. Blood specimens were collected to detect anti-HAV by ELISA commercial kit.

Hepatitis B carrier among married hilltribe women in northern Thailand.

A cross-sectional study of 540 married Akha and Lisaw women of reproductive age was conducted in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand, between June 1st and August 31st, 1999, in order to determine the seroprevalence of HBsAg and identify the risk factors for chronic HBsAg carriage. HBsAg was detected by the reverse passive hemagglutination technique (RPHA). Data were obtained by questionnaires and serological testing.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus among blood donors, Phitsanulok Regional Blood Center, Thailand.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are important blood-borne infections in many countries including Thailand. For epidemiological surveillance and controlling these infections, a cross-sectional group of 2,167 blood donors were screened for HBsAg, antibodies to HCV and HIV by enzyme immunoassay methods. The results revealed that the prevalence of HBsAg positive among studied blood donors was 4.