The role of the biofactor in the formation of occupational diseases in healthcare workers

This article presents data on the leading role of the biological factor in the formation of occupational diseases among health workers for an 18-year period of the work at the North-West Scientific Center for Hygiene and Public Health. The purpose of the study is to provide an objective assessment in establishing relationships related to the effects of a biofactor on the health of health workers. A retrospective analysis was made of a sample of case histories with established occupational diseases due to the impact of a biological factor. There were observed in dynamics 67 cases including 52 women (77 %) and 15 men (23%) aged 23-67 years. All of them were examined for the establishment of the relationship between the disease and occupation during the period of 2000-2017. The infectious agent is considered to be the leading harmful production factor when analyzing working conditions. The average work experience with an infectious agent was 14 years. The class of working conditions in most cases was estimated from permissible to harmful of the 1 degree. Based on the data of sanitary and hygienic characteristics of working conditions, the excess of the maximum permissible concentrations of harmful industrial substances in the air of the working area was recorded only in 8% of cases. The detectability of occupational diseases after periodic medical examinations was 6%; by clinical examination — 8%; when contacting a local physician 20%; to the pathologist 20%; as a result of self-reversal 46%. The biological factor is the leading harmful factor in the workplace of medical workers. As the main preventive measure for occupational diseases among physicians, systematic medical examinations followed by preventive, curative and rehabilitative measures are taken. The most effective way to reduce infectious diseases is the compulsory vaccination of medical staff.