Resumen: El artículo refleja una serie de experiencias del personal de salud para hacer frente a la contingencia sanitaria del COVID-19 desde el momento que se implementó la contingencia, hasta lo que se percibe está por venir, entre ellos, la contratación de profesionales especializados y los posibles riesgos que puede traer si no se cuenta con los principales derechos laborales. Se considera que es un primer acercamiento de las experiencias que se han compartido en documentos oficiales sobre las exigencias laborales y los efectos a la salud que presentaron médicos, enfermeras y personal de apoyo para atender a la población latinoamericana. Con ello se construyó un cuadro comparativo de los retos de los servicios de salud, los riesgos laborales, los posibles efectos y una propuesta de acciones que deben considerarse en el aspecto legal para garantizar la existencia de un trabajo digno y decente, y en caso de que se requiera, brindar el apoyo para la protección del bienestar psicoemocional y laboral del personal sanitario.

Background: Cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) metabolizes environmental toxins, however, compound metabolism can produce oxidative stress, causing in-cell toxicity and sometimes transformation. Aim: To evaluate CYP2E1 gene expression and its effects in antioxidant defenses, and cell toxicity in printing workers. Methods: The hierarchical method of health and chemical risk was used to evaluate chemical exposure in workplace. Blood samples and buccal epithelial cells were obtained from printing workers, and workers without any history of occupational exposure to chemicals (control group). Gene expression of CYP2E1, and antioxidant enzymes Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT) from leukocytes were evaluated. Hematic analysis and cell-free DNA from plasma were analyzed. Frequencies of cells with micronuclei (MN) and nuclear abnormalities from buccal epithelial cells were explored. Results: Evaluation of chemical exposure in working place demonstrated that ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and isophorone represent 91% of the accumulated potential risk. CYP2E1 expression showed a 2.5-fold overexpression in the printing workers compared to the control group. SOD expression showed a 0.5-fold lower level in the printing workers than the control group, and CAT expression showed no differences between groups. Lower red blood cell and platelet values were detected in the printing workers than in the control group, and cell-free DNA plasma concentration was 3-fold higher in the printing workers than in the control group. The printing workers showed a higher frequency of cells with MN and nuclear anomalies than the control group. Conclusion: CYP2E1 overexpression triggers antioxidant defenses and toxic cell effects in printing workers.