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Ergonomics and skin and respiratory tract reactions related to antibiotic reconstitution among nurses and ward pharmacists

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Abstract

Introduction

Reconstituting antibiotics for clinical use requires static postures and repetitive motions which may contribute to the development of musculoskeletal symptoms. Exposure to drugs can cause allergic contact reactions, with antibiotics being the most common cause for occupational contact sensitization among health care workers.

Methodology

We evaluated ergonomics and skin and respiratory tract reactions associated with parenteral antibiotic reconstitution among nurses and ward pharmacists in a tertiary hospital in Kuopio, Finland. A total of 28 ward pharmacists and 296 nurses were sent a link to a questionnaire asking about musculoskeletal symptoms and skin and respiratory tract reactions associated with antibiotic reconstitution. All of the 28 pharmacists and 92 nurses (response rate 100 and 31 %, respectively) answered the questionnaire.

Results

Musculoskeletal symptoms associated with antibiotic reconstitution were more commonly experienced by the pharmacists than by the nurses (68 vs. 5 %; p < 0.001). Skin and respiratory tract reactions were reported by 33 % of the nurses, but only 18 % of the pharmacists (p = 0.13). The most common musculoskeletal symptoms experienced by pharmacists were wrist (43 %), neck (43 %) and finger pain (21 %). In the nurses, the two most common skin symptoms were itching (14 %) and rash (10 %), and the two most common respiratory tract symptoms were sneezing (21 %) and cough (9 %).

Conclusion

Musculoskeletal symptoms associated with antibiotic reconstitution were very common among pharmacists, reported by two out of every three pharmacists, but relatively rare among nurses. Reconstitution-related skin and respiratory tract reactions were also common, reported by every third nurse and every sixth pharmacist.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, PO Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland

      Riikka Metsämuuronen, Meri-Tuuli Vilmunen, Peter Šišovský & Reeta Heikkilä

    2. Pharmacy of Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

      Minna Kurttila, Toivo Naaranlahti & Susanna Saano

    3. School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

      Hannu Kokki

    4. Department of Anaesthesia and Operative Services, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

      Hannu Kokki

    Authors
    1. Riikka Metsämuuronen
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    2. Meri-Tuuli Vilmunen
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    3. Hannu Kokki
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    4. Minna Kurttila
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    5. Toivo Naaranlahti
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    6. Susanna Saano
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    7. Peter Šišovský
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    8. Reeta Heikkilä
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    Corresponding author

    Correspondence to Riikka Metsämuuronen.

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    Funding

    This study was not financially supported by any external sources.

    Conflict of interest

    Riikka Metsämuuronen, Meri-Tuuli Vilmunen, Hannu Kokki, Minna Kurttila, Toivo Naaranlahti, Susanna Saano, Peter Šišovský and Reeta Heikkilä declare that they have no conflict of interest.

    Additional information

    R. Metsämuuronen and M.-T. Vilmunen: Equal contribution.

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    Metsämuuronen, R., Vilmunen, MT., Kokki, H. et al. Ergonomics and skin and respiratory tract reactions related to antibiotic reconstitution among nurses and ward pharmacists. Drugs Ther Perspect 32, 351–356 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-016-0307-4

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-016-0307-4

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