Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 61. No. 4, 2022.
Pregledni rad
https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2022.61.04.16
Skin Features Important for the Occurrence of Contact Dermatitis in Healthcare Workers
Iva Japundžić
orcid.org/0000-0002-7544-0372
; Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia; School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ina Novak-Hlebar
; Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia; School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Bruno Špiljak
orcid.org/0000-0003-2545-4474
; Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Matea Kuna
orcid.org/0000-0001-9932-5558
; Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia; School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Katerina Yale
orcid.org/0000-0003-0909-0412
; Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
Liborija Lugović-Mihić
orcid.org/0000-0001-7494-5742
; Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia; School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Sažetak
The occurrence of skin lesions in healthcare workers is associated with a negative
impact on important skin functions, including protection from mechanical injuries, sunlight, dehydration,
and penetration of chemical substances or pathogenic microorganisms. In healthcare professionals,
the most common occupational skin disease is contact dermatitis (CD), either irritant (ICD) or
allergic (ACD), and typically on the hands. ICD accounts for about 80% of occupational CD, making
it the most frequent cause. According to the literature, CD frequency is higher among healthcare
professionals than other occupations, with critical occupational risk factors including contact with
irritants and allergens at the workplace. Furthermore, ICD is a multifactorial disorder influenced by
many constituent and environmental factors. Constituent factors include age, gender, body location,
atopy, and genetic factors, while environmental factors include temperature, airflow, humidity, and
occlusion. Commonly encountered irritants are water, detergents and surfactants, solvents, oxidizing
agents, acids, and alkalis; however, use of protective gloves or equipment, hand-washing habits, use
of cleansers and creams, active inflammatory skin diseases, and daily activities are also important for
ICD onset. Additionally, ICD is known to predispose to ACD. Important risk factors for ACD development
include occupation, age, history of atopic dermatitis, genetics, female gender, and fair skin
phototype. In summary, numerous skin features and other occupation-related factors contribute to
CD among healthcare practitioners. Given the high level of exposure to contact irritants/allergens in
the healthcare setting, implementation of preventive measures is crucial for a safer work environment.
Ključne riječi
Contact dermatitis; Healthcare workers; Irritant contact dermatitis; Allergic contact dermatitis; Hand eczema; Medical doctors, Dentists
Hrčak ID:
301978
URI
Datum izdavanja:
1.12.2022.
Posjeta: 673 *