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Biological risk exposure association with clinical signs and symptoms in laboratory assistants

Abstract:

Introduction. Mild clinical signs and symptoms in personnel exposed to biological risk may be undetected and would be the beginning of superficial and / or systemic occupational infection. The aim of this study was to determine the association between clinical signs and symptoms with biological risk exposure among laboratory assistants. Material and methods. This cross-sectional trial studied explanatory variables like sociodemographic characteristics, laboratory infrastructure, practices and procedures in biosafety, documentation and health and hygiene at work, and outcome variables like: headache, pharynx, low and high respiratory tract infections and rash. Results. Nineteen participants from 24 laboratories from Agricultural Sciences and the Environment Faculty of Francisco de Paula Santander University, were selected and underwent to clinical record analysis. The median (Me) of age were found in 36 years with interquartile range 30-39, 68.4% women, 73.7% of the assistants have direct exposure to biological risk. Infrastructure, waste storage, use of personal protection elements obtained more than 80% compliance. No statistical association was found between the variables headache (p = 0.305), pharyngitis (p = 0.345) respiratory infections (p = 0.529), ear infection (p = 0.372) rash (p = 0.259) with exposure to biological risk; but, it was determined that the attendants exposed to biological risk have an OR = 3.75 in headache and OR = 2.7 in pharyngitis. Conclusions. It is necessary to reinforce preventive measures in relation to practices and procedures in laboratories as well as to initiate an Epidemiological Surveillance System with a view to the prevention of diseases related to this type of risk.