| Peer-Reviewed

Respiratory Health Problems Among Endoscopy Nurses Exposed to Glutaraldehyde in Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt

Received: 18 September 2016     Accepted: 27 September 2016     Published: 18 October 2016
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Introduction: Glutaraldehyde is still used for sterilization of endoscopes in Egypt and known to be associated with many respiratory problems, so this study aims to establish control program guidelines to promote the respiratory health of endoscopy nurses in Zagazig University Hospitals with the objectives to assess the frequency of respiratory health problems among endoscopy nurses and to identify associated occupational and personal risk factors. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study carried on 42 endoscopy nurses exposed to glutaraldehyde compared to non-exposed 84 nurses working at outpatient clinics. All nurses were subjected to a questionnaire (socio-demographic and occupational characteristics, chronic respiratory problems), checklist for assessment of glutaraldehyde related work practice and pulmonary function tests. Results: Chronic cough was found in 52.0% of endoscopy nurses while asthma was only in 19.0% of nurse. Chronic respiratory problems increased in endoscopy nurses with increased work duration, poor work practices especially handling procedures and lack of training. All ventilatory lung function parameters of endoscopy nurses showed statistically significant decline with both increased work duration ≥ 15 years and increased working hours ≥ 36 hours per week. Majority of endoscopy nurses 30.0% had mild airflow obstruction. Conclusions: Highlighting the respiratory health problems and airway obstruction resulting from exposure to glutaraldehyde will raise the importance to use safer alternatives. Results will lead to implementing of training programs for proper cleaning and sterilization processes, also raising awareness and providing information about proper work practices of handling hazardous substances.

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 4, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20160406.16
Page(s) 451-457
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2016. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Airway Obstruction, Endoscopy, Glutaraldehyde, Nurses, Occupational Exposure

References
[1] Trinkoff AM, Geiger-Brown JM, Caruso CC, Lipscomb JA, Johantgen M, Nelson AL, Sattler BA, Selby VL. Personal Safety for Nurses. In: Hughes RG, editor. Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US). Chapter 39. P.473-508; 2008 Apr [cited 2015 Jan 10]. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2661/
[2] Takigawa T, Endo Y. Effects of glutaraldehyde exposure on human health. J Occup Health 2006; 48:75–87. http://doi.org/10.1539/joh.48.75
[3] Rideout K, Teschke K, Dimich-Ward H, Kennedy SM. Considering risks to healthcare workers from glutaraldehyde alternatives in high-level disinfection. Journal of Hospital Infection 2005; 59:4-11. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2004.07.003
[4] Smith DR, Wang RS. Glutaraldehyde exposures and its occupational impact in the health care environment. Environ Health Prev Med 2006; 11:3-10. http://doi.org/10.1007/BF02898201
[5] Gado A, Ebeid B, Abdelmohsen A, Axon A. Improving safety of personnel exposed to disinfectants by introducing an Endoscopy Quality Assurance Program. Alexandria Journal of Medicine 2014; 50:7-12. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajme.2013.03.001
[6] American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Nursing Shortage Fact Sheet [Internet]. 2014 [updated 2014 April 24; cited 2016 Sept 22]. Available from: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/FacultyShortageFS.pdf
[7] Cotes JE, Chinn DJ. MRC questionnaire (MRCQ) on respiratory symptoms. Occupational Medicine 2007; 57:388. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqm051
[8] OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). Best practices for the safe use of glutaraldehyde in health care [Internet]. OSHA 3258–3308.N, 2006 [cited 2015 March 15]. Available from: www.osha.gov/Publications/glutaraldehyde.pdf
[9] Miller MR, Hankinson J, Brusasco V, Burgos F, Casaburi R, Coates A, et al. Standardisation of spirometry. Series ‘‘ATS/ERS Task force: Standardisation of lung function testing’’. Eur Respir J [Internet] 2005; 26:319–38. Available from: https://www.thoracic.org/statements/resources/pfet/PFT2.pdf
[10] Gildea TR, McCarthy K. Pulmonary function testing. In Cleveland clinic: current clinical medicine, 2010. [cited 2015 April 3]. Available from: http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/pulmonary/pulmonary-function-testing/
[11] Al-Batanony MA, El-Shafie MK. Evaluation of Occupational Exposure to Glutaraldehyde among Endoscopy Nursing staff in Menoufiya University Hospital. Egyptian Journal of Occupational Medicine 2007; 31:75-85
[12] Nayebzadeh A. The effect of work practices on personal exposure to glutaraldehyde among health care workers. Industrial Health 2007; 45:289–95. http://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.45.289
[13] Katagiri H, Suzuki T, Aizawa Y, Kadowaki T. Indoor Glutaraldehyde Levels in the Endoscope Disinfecting Room and Subjective Symptoms among Workers. Industrial Health 2006; 44:225–9. http://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.44.225
[14] Arif AA, Delclos GL. Association between cleaning-related chemicals and work-related asthma and asthma symptoms among healthcare professionals. Occup Environ Med 2012; 69:35-40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/oem.2011.064865
[15] Ong TH, Tan KL, Lee HS, Eng P. A case report of occupational asthma due to gluteraldehyde exposure. Annals-Academy of Medicine Singapore 2004; 33:275-8.‏
[16] Romano-Woodward D. Safe use of glutaraldehyde. Nursing Standard 2000; 14:47-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.7748/ns2000.04.14.32.47.c2825
[17] Gado A, Ebeid B, Abdelmohsen A and Axon A. Improving safety of personnel exposed to disinfectants by introducing an Endoscopy Quality Assurance Program. Alexandria Journal of Medicine 2014; 50(1):7-12.‏ http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajme.2013.03.001
[18] Athanazio R. Airway disease: similarities and differences between asthma, COPD and bronchiectasis. Clinics 2012, 67(11):1335-1343. ‏ http://dx.doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2012(11)19
[19] McCarthy K. Pulmonary Function Testing. Medscape [Internet], 2015 [updated 2015 Feb 18; cited 2015 April 8]. Available from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/303239-overview
[20] Copeland S and Nugent K. Persistent and unusual respiratory findings after prolonged glutaraldehyde exposure. Int J Occup Environ Med 2015; 6:177-183
[21] Abbasi IN, Ahsan A, Nafees AA. Correlation of respiratory symptoms and spirometric lung patterns in a rural community setting, Sindh, Pakistan: a cross sectional survey. BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2012; 12:81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2466-12-81
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Sarah Abdelhalim Bolbol, Enjy Ahmad Khorshed, Naema El-Lithy Soliman, Mohammed Magdy Nassef. (2016). Respiratory Health Problems Among Endoscopy Nurses Exposed to Glutaraldehyde in Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt. Science Journal of Public Health, 4(6), 451-457. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20160406.16

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Sarah Abdelhalim Bolbol; Enjy Ahmad Khorshed; Naema El-Lithy Soliman; Mohammed Magdy Nassef. Respiratory Health Problems Among Endoscopy Nurses Exposed to Glutaraldehyde in Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt. Sci. J. Public Health 2016, 4(6), 451-457. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20160406.16

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Sarah Abdelhalim Bolbol, Enjy Ahmad Khorshed, Naema El-Lithy Soliman, Mohammed Magdy Nassef. Respiratory Health Problems Among Endoscopy Nurses Exposed to Glutaraldehyde in Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt. Sci J Public Health. 2016;4(6):451-457. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20160406.16

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20160406.16,
      author = {Sarah Abdelhalim Bolbol and Enjy Ahmad Khorshed and Naema El-Lithy Soliman and Mohammed Magdy Nassef},
      title = {Respiratory Health Problems Among Endoscopy Nurses Exposed to Glutaraldehyde in Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {4},
      number = {6},
      pages = {451-457},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20160406.16},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20160406.16},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20160406.16},
      abstract = {Introduction: Glutaraldehyde is still used for sterilization of endoscopes in Egypt and known to be associated with many respiratory problems, so this study aims to establish control program guidelines to promote the respiratory health of endoscopy nurses in Zagazig University Hospitals with the objectives to assess the frequency of respiratory health problems among endoscopy nurses and to identify associated occupational and personal risk factors. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study carried on 42 endoscopy nurses exposed to glutaraldehyde compared to non-exposed 84 nurses working at outpatient clinics. All nurses were subjected to a questionnaire (socio-demographic and occupational characteristics, chronic respiratory problems), checklist for assessment of glutaraldehyde related work practice and pulmonary function tests. Results: Chronic cough was found in 52.0% of endoscopy nurses while asthma was only in 19.0% of nurse. Chronic respiratory problems increased in endoscopy nurses with increased work duration, poor work practices especially handling procedures and lack of training. All ventilatory lung function parameters of endoscopy nurses showed statistically significant decline with both increased work duration ≥ 15 years and increased working hours ≥ 36 hours per week. Majority of endoscopy nurses 30.0% had mild airflow obstruction. Conclusions: Highlighting the respiratory health problems and airway obstruction resulting from exposure to glutaraldehyde will raise the importance to use safer alternatives. Results will lead to implementing of training programs for proper cleaning and sterilization processes, also raising awareness and providing information about proper work practices of handling hazardous substances.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Respiratory Health Problems Among Endoscopy Nurses Exposed to Glutaraldehyde in Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt
    AU  - Sarah Abdelhalim Bolbol
    AU  - Enjy Ahmad Khorshed
    AU  - Naema El-Lithy Soliman
    AU  - Mohammed Magdy Nassef
    Y1  - 2016/10/18
    PY  - 2016
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20160406.16
    DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20160406.16
    T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
    SP  - 451
    EP  - 457
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7950
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20160406.16
    AB  - Introduction: Glutaraldehyde is still used for sterilization of endoscopes in Egypt and known to be associated with many respiratory problems, so this study aims to establish control program guidelines to promote the respiratory health of endoscopy nurses in Zagazig University Hospitals with the objectives to assess the frequency of respiratory health problems among endoscopy nurses and to identify associated occupational and personal risk factors. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study carried on 42 endoscopy nurses exposed to glutaraldehyde compared to non-exposed 84 nurses working at outpatient clinics. All nurses were subjected to a questionnaire (socio-demographic and occupational characteristics, chronic respiratory problems), checklist for assessment of glutaraldehyde related work practice and pulmonary function tests. Results: Chronic cough was found in 52.0% of endoscopy nurses while asthma was only in 19.0% of nurse. Chronic respiratory problems increased in endoscopy nurses with increased work duration, poor work practices especially handling procedures and lack of training. All ventilatory lung function parameters of endoscopy nurses showed statistically significant decline with both increased work duration ≥ 15 years and increased working hours ≥ 36 hours per week. Majority of endoscopy nurses 30.0% had mild airflow obstruction. Conclusions: Highlighting the respiratory health problems and airway obstruction resulting from exposure to glutaraldehyde will raise the importance to use safer alternatives. Results will lead to implementing of training programs for proper cleaning and sterilization processes, also raising awareness and providing information about proper work practices of handling hazardous substances.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

  • Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

  • Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

  • Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

  • Sections