The additive value of patch testing non-commercial test substances and patients' own products in a clinic of occupational dermatology

BACKGROUND

Commercial patch test substances don't cover all occupational contact allergens. Workplace materials and in-house test substances are tested to complement the investigation of occupational skin disease (OSD).

OBJECTIVES

To quantify the additional value of testing workplace materials and non-commercial in-house test substances in the diagnosis of OSD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients files of 544 patients patch tested at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in 2015-2019 were reviewed for occupation, diagnoses, and patch test results.

RESULTS

OSD was diagnosed in 353 (64.9%) of the patients. 206 (37.9%) patients had occupational allergic contact dermatitis (OACD). In 19 (3.5%) patients, the only clues to the diagnoses of OACD were positive reactions to workplace materials, and in 20 (3.7%) patients, the diagnosis of OACD was based on commercially unavailable test substances. In 167 OACD cases diagnosed by commercial test substances, additional causes were found in 17 by testing patients' own and non-commercial test substances. In 43 (7.9%) cases, positive reactions to workplace materials reinforced diagnoses based on commercial test substances. The overall additive value of testing own products was 16.7% (91 cases).

CONCLUSIONS

We would have missed 39 (18.9%) of our 206 OACD cases if we had solely used commercial test substances. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

A study to assess communication hindrances by the means of work authorization for fixed dental prosthesis: A survey

Aim:

The aim of the study was to assess the hindrances in communication between the prosthodontic office and the laboratory technicians through work authorization.

Setting and Design:

A questionnaire-based survey was carried out to assess communication gap between dentist and lab technicians through work authorization for FDPs.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 114 dental laboratory technicians were provided with a questionnaire regarding work authorization form via Google doc files. The survey focused questions pertaining to fulfilling the following areas of work authorization: patient's information, name of the prescribing dentist, material for the prosthesis, pontic design of the prosthesis, shade description, and date of completion of work.

Statistical Analysis Used:

The number of responses received was statistically evaluated using Fisher's t-test and nonparametric Spearman's correlation coefficient (P ≤ 0.05).

Results:

Eighty-five (74.5%) out of 114 laboratory technicians surveyed responded to the questionnaire. The patient's general information was satisfactorily filled in 75%–100% of the forms. Information regarding the pontic design, staining diagram, and preferred margin were on the lower side of the scale ranging between 25% and 50%.

Conclusions:

The survey concluded that areas of work authorization with respect to fixed dental prosthesis require attention and need to be adequately filled by the dentist. In addition, the study suggests that the foundation of communication skill training programs in work authorization should be laid from the undergraduate curriculum. The concerned authorized bodies/specialty organizations should formulate a standardized work authorization format which can bridge the wide gap between the crown and bridge office and laboratory.

Knowledge and practices about sterilization and disinfection

Aims

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the knowledge and practices employed for infection control in dental laboratories.

Materials and Methods

A preformed questionnaire comprised of 16 questions related to infection control measures was prepared. This questionnaire based survey was then conducted among dental technicians of 60 dental colleges in East India. Data were then recorded and analyzed.

Results

Majority of impressions/prosthesis were carried in plastic bags (93.8%) by laboratory attendants to the laboratory. The responses revealed that majority of impressions were received after wearing gloves (54.6%) from dental attendant. Majority of dental technicians (78.1%) admitted in their responses that they are not aware of infection control measures taken in dental laboratory. Only 32.8% technicians were found to practice disinfection procedure after receiving impression/prosthesis in laboratory from dental operatory. Among protective wears, 70.3%, 95.3%, 32.8%, and 92.2% technicians were found to use gloves, Apron, eye shield, and face mask, respectively. Among all respondents, 59.3% were found to be vaccinated for hepatitis B vaccine.

Conclusion

There is lack of knowledge and motivation among dental technician to practice infection control measures in dental laboratories of dental institutes in North India.

Unintentional Injuries in the Three References Laboratories: Sana'a, Yemen

Background:

The aim is to determine the incidence rate of unintentional injuries and its associated factors and determine the pattern of these injuries among laboratory staff in three reference laboratories in Sana’a, Yemen.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted among laboratory staff in the three reference laboratories in Sana'a, Yemen. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the unintentional injuries during the past 12 months including the type of injury.

Results:

A total of 93 technicians responded and filled the questionnaires. Of the 93 technicians, 51 (54.8%) technicians reported that they had been injured in the past 12 months. Of all injuries, 38% of technicians were caused by needle sticks, 21% by sharp materials other than needles, 15% by hot materials, 15% by exposure to chemicals, and 11% of them by other exposures. Only 18% of injuries were reported to safety officer in the laboratory. Those who had an experience of <5 years were more likely to experience injury in the past 12 months than those who had 5 years of experience or more (odds ratio = 8.3; 95% confidence interval: 2.2, 27.4; P < 0.005).

Conclusions:

About half of laboratory technicians in Yemen reported that they had been injured in the past 12 months, with the needle stick being the most common cause of injury. Therefore, there is a need for targeted interventions to laboratory technicians to increase their awareness on the risk of injuries in the laboratory. Bio-safety training among laboratory technicians deemed very necessary.

Can high social capital at the workplace buffer against stress and musculoskeletal pain?: Cross-sectional study

Work-related musculoskeletal pain and stress are both highly prevalent in the working environment and relate well to the biopsychosocial model. While the onset of musculoskeletal pain is often dependent on the biological element of the biopsychosocial model, chronic pain is often influenced by psychological and social factors. Similarly, stress is also influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. This study investigates the possibility of social capital being a buffer for stress and musculoskeletal pain in a group of female laboratory technicians.Female laboratory technicians (n = 500) replied to questions about stress (Cohens Perceived Stress Scale-10), musculoskeletal pain (0-10 visual analog scale), and social capital at the workplace (bonding [in teams], bridging [between teams], and linking [between teams and leaders]). Outcome variables were stress and musculoskeletal pain and the predictor variable was social capital. General linear models tested the association of the 3 types of social capital (predictor variables) with stress and pain (mutually adjusted outcome variables). Analyses were controlled for age, lifestyle (body mass index, smoking), seniority, and working hours per week.For stress as outcome, moderate and high bonding social capital were different from low social capital with -2.04 (95% confidence interval [CI] -3.33 to -0.76) and -4.56 (95% CI -5.84 to -3.28) points on the Perceived Stress Scale of 0 to 42, respectively. Similarly, moderate and high bridging social capital were different from low social capital with -1.50 (95% CI -2.76 to -0.24) and -4.39 (95% CI -5.75 to -3.03), respectively. For linking, only high social was significantly different from low with -2.94 (95% CI -4.28 to -1.60). None of the 3 types of social capital was associated with musculoskeletal pain.Higher levels of social capital at the workplace appear to buffer against stress, but not against musculoskeletal pain. Intervention studies should investigate whether improving bonding, bridging, and linking social capital at the workplace may be a viable strategy to prevent or reduce work-related stress.

Infection control knowledge and practice: A cross-sectional survey on dental laboratories in dental institutes of North India

Aim and Objectives

The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of dental laboratory technicians regarding infection control and modes of infection control employed by them.

Settings and Design

A self-assessment questionnaire-based survey was carried out among dental technicians to assess the knowledge and practice of infection control in dental laboratories.

Materials and Methods

Survey instrument containing 16 questions were randomly distributed to 70 dental colleges of North India regarding knowledge of infection control methods and infection control practised in laboratories. Data were collected and analyzed.

Results

The response showed that 30.76% of dental technicians receive 30-50 or more than 50 impressions in a week. About 96.15% of the technicians used a plastic bag to carry impressions. Twenty-five percent of the dental technicians were aware of infection control protocol. Fifty-five percent of the technicians received impressions while wearing gloves and 61.53% of the institutes had a separate receiving area. Nearly 71.15% of the technicians communicate with the doctor regarding the disinfection of impression received in the laboratory. Almost 30.76% of the dental technicians disinfect all the impressions and 67.30% technicians use immersion for disinfection of impressions. Only 38.46% responded that they immerse impressions for 10 min for disinfection. About 73.07% use gloves, 90.38% use mouth masks, 57.69% wear eye shields, and 88.46% wear aprons while working. Nearly 78.84% of the technicians received vaccination against hepatitis B virus. Almost 69.23% of the technicians change pumice slurry after regular intervals, and 75% do not add any disinfectant. Nearly 59.61% of technicians disinfect the prostheses before sending it to the clinic, and 42.30% disinfect them by immersion technique. About disposal of waste, 80.76% said that they dispose the waste properly.

Conclusion

To summarize, most of the technicians were not aware of basic infection control protocols.

How do laboratory technicians perceive their role in the tuberculosis diagnostic process? A cross-sectional study among laboratory technicians in health centers of Central Java Province, Indonesia

PURPOSE

Detection of acid-fast bacilli in respiratory specimens serves as an initial pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis. Laboratories are the essential and fundamental part of all health systems. This study aimed to describe how laboratory technicians perceived their own self and work. This included perceived self-efficacy, perceived role, perceived equipment availability, perceived procedures, perceived reward and job, and perceived benefit of health education, as well as level of knowledge and attitudes related to work performance of laboratory technicians.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional quantitative study involving 120 laboratory technicians conducted in Central Java. Interviews and observation were conducted to measure performance and work-related variables.

RESULTS

Among 120 laboratory technicians, 43.3% showed fairly good performance. They complied with 50%-75% of all procedures, including sputum collection, laboratory tools utilization, sputum smearing, staining, smear examination, grading of results, and universal precaution practice. Perceived role, perceived self-efficacy, and knowledge of laboratory procedures were significantly correlated to performance, besides education and years of working as a laboratory technician. Perceived equipment availability was also significantly correlated to performance after the education variable was controlled.

CONCLUSION

Most of the laboratory technicians believed that they have an important role in TB patients' treatment and should display proper self-efficacy in performing laboratory activities. The result may serve as a basic consideration to develop a policy for enhancing motivation of laboratory technicians in order to improve the TB control program.

Upper limb musculoskeletal complaints among technicians working in a diagnostic tuberculosis laboratory: two case reports

Upper limb musculoskeletal complaints are common among certain health professionals. We report two cases, both involving technicians working in a diagnostic tuberculosis laboratory in Hong Kong. A work process evaluation suggest that the need to repeatedly open and close small bottles, as well as to work for prolonged periods of time in confined areas, could be related to the workers' clinical presentation. The cases are also compatible with the diagnosis of repetitive strain injury (RSI) of the upper limb, but this term is not commonly used nowadays because of various definitional issues. A review of the various diagnostic issues in RSI is presented.

Using wintergreen oil for mounting mosquito larvae: a safer alternative to xylene

Permanent mounting of fourth instar mosquito larvae is essential for identifying Aedes spp. This procedure requires extensive exposure to xylene, a clearing agent in the mounting process. We investigated wintergreen oil as a substitute for xylene. Five hundred larvae were mounted on slides to evaluate shrinkage or expansion of specimens after clearing using xylene or wintergreen oil. We examined the ventral brush and siphonal hair tufts for species identification and for preservation of morphological characteristics after clearing specimens in xylene or wintergreen oil. Shrinkage of the length of whole larvae and width of the head, thorax and abdomen after mounting was significantly greater after clearing with xylene than with wintergreen oil. The length of the comb scale nearest the ventral brush was similar for both clearing agents. The clarity of the specimens after mounting was improved by clearing with wintergreen oil, but the integrity of the ventral brush and siphonal hair tufts were similar for both clearing agents.