Morbidity survey of post mortem room staff

Article Abstract:

Health care workers are constantly exposed to patients with various infections, illnesses and diseases. This places them at an increased risk of developing an illness. The degree of risk is greater for some subgroups of health workers than others. Post mortem staff, who are involved in autopsy, compose a high-risk group. This article describes the results of a study designed to determine the incidence of sickness in health care workers in England and Wales who come in contact with deceased patients or samples of body tissue. Questionnaires were mailed to post mortem room staff, pathologists and coroners' officers to determine the average number of sick leave days taken during a one-year period between 1985 and 1986. The post mortem room staff (774) reported the highest number of sick leave days, averaging eight days per person. The pathologists (588) reported an average of two sick leave days per person, and the coroners' officers (76) reported and average of four sick leave days per person. The post mortem technicians reported taking four to five times more sick leave days because of infectious diseases, cuts and lacerations, than the pathologists or coroners' officers. Respiratory diseases were most common among the technicians and pathologists, while digestive diseases were most common among the coroners' officers. It is concluded that post mortem technicians have higher rates of absence caused by sickness than pathologists or coroners' officers. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Surveys, Occupational diseases, Workers, Anatomists

---

NHS staff sickness survey

Article Abstract:

Staff working in the UK National Health Service (NHS) are prone to sickness, but they drink and smoke less than the general population and are less overweight. The Health Education Authority revealed these findings after a survey of 8,550 NHS staff members. Almost 50% of women NHS employees and 37% of male employees had taken sick leave during the six months prior to the survey. The NHS employees report fairly low levels of work-related stress, but most claim that better communication with managers would further reduce occupational stress levels.

Officials and employees, United Kingdom. National Health Service

---

Hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D, E, and G: implications for dental personnel

Article Abstract:

Dental personnel are at risk of developing acute and chronic hepatitis from exposure to hepatitis viruses during patient care. Hepatitis A virus and hepatitis E virus cause acute liver inflammation. The B, C, D, and G variants, however, can cause chronic hepatitis, and these infections increase the risks of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Vaccinations can protect against some forms of hepatitis, and workplace safety practices can reduce exposure to infectious bodily fluids.

United States, Care and treatment, Prevention, Hepatitis, Viral, Viral hepatitis, Work-related injuries, Work related injuries, Dental personnel

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: The structure of phobias in panic disorder. Koro: the genital retraction symptom after stroke
• Abstracts: Treatment of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn: update. Changes in body composition and energy expenditure after six weeks' growth hormone treatment
• Abstracts: A prospective analysis of 1,518 laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Laparoscopic herniorrhaphy: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology Assessment (DATTA)
• Abstracts: Chronic pyelonephritis: the significance of renal renin and the vascular changes in the human kidney. Renin gene expression in nephroblastoma
• Abstracts: Pharmacologic stress imaging. Ultrasonography of acute abdominal pain in children

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.