Occupational dermatitis among health service workers

Health service workers in the number of 152 suffering of dermatitis were examined. They included 43 physicians, 25 stomatologists, 59 nurses, 14 hospital-wards and 12 other persons working in hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. In physicians occupational contact dermatitis occured in ten patients, exclusively among those performing operations, most frequently surgeons and ginecologists. Rubber gloves (5 patients) disinfectants and chromic catgut were the sensitizing objects. Moreover, a woman gynecologist positive to nickel observed that also the use of a speculum exacerbated her lesions. A laryngologist with seborrhoic dermatitis, strongly positive to formaldehyde, had exacerbations when using--during surgery--a microscope disinfected with formalin solution. Allergic occupational contact dermatitis was diagnosed in 12 stomatologists; they were positive to eugenol, mercury, novocaine or formaldehyde. Among 24 nurses with allergic occupational contact dermatitis, those positive to antibiotics (specially to semisynthetic penicillins) or to disinfectants (most of them to formaldehyde) were most numerous. Some nurses were sensitive to such drugs as Propranolol, Aminophyllinum or chlorpromazine hydrochloride. To the latter drug also a ward attendant was positive.