Characteristics of wet work in nurses

Abstract

The characteristics of wet work in nurses differed substantially, depending on the ward. According to the German regulation TRGS 531, our observations classify nursing as a wet work occupation, due to the frequency of wet work rather than its duration. The mean duration of occlusion in our observations was short, which makes an occlusion-induced irritating effect doubtful. Reduction in wet work exposure in nursing on regular wards could focus on the reduction of the frequency of hand-washing and patient-washing. We suggest increasing the use of gloves for patient washing. Although this will increase exposure to occlusion from gloves, it may reduce the frequency of exposure to water and soap by about a quarter.

A Survey of Work-Related Skin Diseases in Different Occupations in Poland

“…CD is generally caused by frequent hand washing (in water), gloves, soaps, aggressive disinfectants or detergents, drugs, epoxies and resins and nickel, which is present in the metal parts of medical instruments [6,7,8,9,10,11].…”

“…Wet work has been defined as skin exposed to liquids longer than 2 h per day or very frequent washing of the hands (>20 times/day or less if the cleaning procedure is more aggressive) [1,10].…”

Impact of wet work on epidermal barrier (TEWL and stratum corneum hydration) and skin viscoelasticity in nurses

“…Szczególną rolę przypisuje się tzw. mokremu środowisku pracy (wet work) (3,4), definiowanemu jako (5): n kontakt rąk z wodą lub płynami w ciągu znaczącego czasu zatrudnienia (powyżej 2 godzin dziennie), n częste (powyżej 20 epizodów dziennie) i intensywne mycie rąk, n noszenie okluzyjnych rękawic ochronnych w podobnym wymiarze czasu. Wykazano, że zarówno ekspozycja na wodę (6), jak i długotrwała okluzja (7) poprzez wpływ na komórki warstwy rogowej oraz międzykomórkowe struktury lipidowe naskórka wywołuje zaburzenia morfologii i funkcji bariery naskórkowej oraz może indukować nieswoistą reakcję zapalną w obrębie skóry (7,8).…”

The Prevalence of Hand Dermatitis in Nurses: A Narrative Review Highlighting the Importance of Prevention

“…Occupational hand eczema (OHE) is common in "wet work" occupations [3][4][5], the hands being the part of the body mainly affected in the majority of cases, especially in the nursing profession, and even more frequently in workplaces where employees are obliged to wash their hands continually in order to prevent infections. This occurs in workplaces such as intensive care units (ICUs) [4], emergency care, isolation wards, transplant wards, oncology, etc.,.…”

“…This occurs in workplaces such as intensive care units (ICUs) [4], emergency care, isolation wards, transplant wards, oncology, etc.,.…”