Abstract

Background: Based on the available evidence, the COVID-19 virus is transmitted through close contact and droplets, not in the form of airborne transmission (airborne) among humans. People at risk of infection are those who are in close contact with or looking after COVID-19 patients. Preventive and mitigation measures are key in both the healthcare sector and the community. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory to protect healthcare workers from the new coronavirus, but healthcare workers may have skin damage especially associated with long-term use of PPE. Objective: The main purpose in this study is to forward the effects of PPE and disinfectants on health care workers skin health. Methods: From March to May 2020, self-administered face to face questionnaires were distributed to 200 individuals, consisting of healthcare workes who served in the designated departments of tertiary hospitals Famagusta /Cyprus. The questionnaire included questions about the condition of skin damage and the frequency or duration of several infection-prevention measures. Results: The most common protection equipment were surgery mask (91.5%), gloves (87.5%) and hand sanitizer (52.0%). In addition, 141 (70.5%) individuals stated take a bath/shower frequently as a protection method from COVID and135 (67.5%) individuals stated air conditioning. Most individuals use latex gloves with powder (65.0%) or powder free (62.0%). Mean daily duration of wearing mask was 7.32 ± 4.54 (range 0–24) hours, wearing visor or glasses was 3.16 ± 3.97 (range 0–24) hours, wearing protective apron was 4.20 ± 4.57 (range 0–24) hours and wearing gloves was 5.33 ± 4.03 (range 0–24) hours. Eighty (40.0%) individuals bought personal protective equipment for COVID. Most individuals (73.0%) did not see a COVID patient while 18 (9.0%) individuals sampled from a COVID patient. None of the individuals was COVID positive. Mean stress level was 70.24 ± 23.58 (range 0–100). Most individuals (92.0%) stay at home except working times. Fifty-two (26.0%) individuals had hand dryness (xerosis cutis), 38 (19.0%) individuals had body itching or exanthema, 41 (20.5%) individuals had facial wounds because of mask, visor etc. and 68 (34.0%) individuals had rhinitis. Twenty-nine (14.5%) individuals had treatment because of dermal problems. Conclusion: Atopy, winter season, low humidity frequency of hand washing with detergents / disinfectants can disrupt the hydro-lipid cover of the skin surface and also cause irritation and even the development of contact dermatitis. Two-thirds of healthcare workers wash their hands 10 times a day, but only 22% applied skin protective cream. Also, according to a study, prophylactic dressings have been shown to alleviate pressure injuries associated with the device. Also, longer exposure time is an important risk factor. Latex-free gloves are now a mandatory standard in many hospitals and clinics and have the potential to reduce occupational skin diseases.

Key words: healthcare workers; PPE, personal protective equipment.