Researchers conducted a cross-sectional anonymous online survey of all workers at a single healthcare organization. The survey polled the staff on use of chlorhexidine solutions, which are common hand disinfectants.
Of the 1,050 respondents, 76.3 percent were female, 35.3 percent were nurses and midwives, 28 percent were medical staff and 8.7 percent worked in nonclinical areas.
More than 95 percent of the respondents reported used chlorhexidine-based hand hygiene products in the workplace. Nurses and midwives most frequently reported asthma (13.7 percent), contact dermatitis (27.8 percent) and previous testing for allergy to chlorhexidine (4.9 percent).
“Screening programs need to identify nurses who develop chlorhexidine sensitivity due to occupational exposure,” study authors concluded.
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