Highlights from R01 Grants
Global Impact of Novel Interventions to Protect Workers from Airborne Diseases
Project Title: Testing Novel Interventions to Protect Workers from Airborne Infections. Principal Investigator: E. Nardell
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the world’s deadliest diseases. One-fourth of the global population is infected with this airborne spread illness. Concerns about the transmission of airborne infections, like SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), pandemic influenza, bioterrorism agents, TB, and other diseases in the workplace led to this study. While this project initially focused on interventions to reduce the risk of airborne infections to workers, significant findings and outcomes emerged related to TB.
Researchers tested several methods to reduce the contagion of patients with multidrug-resistant TB. The methods included wearing a surgical mask and using upper-room germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) air disinfection. Through human-to-guinea pig transmission studies, researchers discovered long-sought evidence for upper room GUV efficacy. They found that upper room GUV (254 nm) resulted in patients with multidrug-resistant TB becoming more than 80% less infectious. Investigators found surgical masks 53% effective in reducing patient contagion.
Researchers also developed and tested a new, more efficient approach to the upper room GUV, called the “eggcrate ceiling” GUV. This study also led to new dosing guidance for GUV application, including new guidelines issued in South Africa. The World Health Organization is also considering data from the study in its upcoming revised TB infection control guidelines.
Furthermore, scientists developed a new approach to the TB transmission control strategy named Find cases Actively, Separate temporarily, and Treat effectively or FAST. The FAST method rapidly diagnoses TB via molecular diagnostic testing. It also tests to see if a person has a drug resistant form of TB. FAST has been tested and implemented in hospital settings globally, including in Bangladesh, Russia, and Vietnam. The World Health Organization also included information on FAST in its publication, Implementing the End TB Strategy: the Essentialsexternal icon.
Details:
Tuberculosis: Data and Statistics
Grantome: Testing Novel Interventions to Protect Workers from Airborne Infectionsexternal icon
New Guidelines Developed for the Design of Hospital Patient Rooms to Reduce Musculoskeletal Disorders in Healthcare Workers
Project Title: A Participatory Design Process Addressing Ergonomics in Hospital Patient Rooms. Principal Investigator: S. Lavender
Musculoskeletal disorders are soft-tissue injuries caused by sudden or sustained exposure to repeated motion, force, vibration, and awkward positions. They are a major source of injury to healthcare workers. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants had the highest rates of musculoskeletal disorders in 2010. The awkward postures and motions of healthcare workers, along with the physical effort required to complete their tasks, are often related to the structure of their workspace. For many healthcare workers, the hospital patient room is a common work setting that leads to significant physical demands for employees due to room design.
This study aimed to reduce healthcare workers’ musculoskeletal injuries in the patient room setting. Using a design process that actively involves users, researchers obtained information from employees working in patient rooms to develop an improved room design. Researchers conducted interviews and focus groups with these workers across multiple occupations. They gathered details on the workers’ job tasks and challenges faced because of patient room design, collecting worker input on ideal designs for patient rooms. Scientists also received feedback from hospital patients and visitors on multiple room design layouts. The findings from this study led to 66 new guidelines that define the design needs of patient rooms. These recommendations will allow building designers, hospital administrators, and others interested in patient room design to make informed decisions when building or remodeling hospitals.
Details:
Grantome: A participatory Design Process Addressing Ergonomics of Hospital Patient Rooms external icon
OSHA: Healthcare, Safe Patient Handlingexternal icon
The Revised Strain Index: An Enhanced Job Exposure Assessment Method for Musculoskeletal Issues
Project Title: Exposure Response Relationships for CTS and Epicondylitis from Pooled Data. Principal Investigator: A. Garg
As shown by 2014 National Safety Council data, work-related sprains, strains, and tears were twice as likely to result in workers’ compensation claims as fractures, cuts, lacerations, amputations, bruises, contusions, burns, and chemical burns altogether. These musculoskeletal injuries negatively impact both workers and employers. This NIOSH-funded project focused on the relationship between biomechanical stressors—physical job demands like frequent bending, heavy lifting, and lengthy standing—and upper limb injuries—carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), and golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis).
To measure biomechanical stressors, researchers used analytical methods to find which physical factors on the job exposed workers to increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders. These methods include a new risk assessment model, developed during this study, called the Revised Strain Index. This index quantifies physical exposures to musculoskeletal problems that impact the upper body. The Revised Strain Index builds on the 1995 Strain Index—one of the most common methods in North America to measure distal upper extremity exposures on the job.
The Revised Strain Index focuses on each physical exertion in a task and each task within the overall job. Its calculations are also sensitive to minor improvements in tasks over time. Researchers think that the Revised Strain Index will supply more reliable data than established surveillance based assessment models: the 1995 Strain Index and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®) Threshold Limit Value for Hand-Activity Level.
Details:
Grantome: Exposure Response Relationships for CTS and Epicondylitis from Pooled Dataexternal icon
The Revised Strain Index: An Improved Upper Extremity Exposure Assessment Modelexternal icon
NIOSH Musculoskeletal Health Program
Highlights from R21 Grants
Novel Blood Test Quickly and Accurately Detects Pesticide Exposure
Project Title: Integrated Approach for Environmental Health Monitoring: Exposure Signatures of Pesticides. Principal Investigator: D. Du
Pesticides are a common agricultural tool to increase harvests. But over-exposure to some pesticides leads to serious health problems, including nerve damage. So worker protection, including exposure monitoring, is critical. At NIOSH, the Pesticide Surveillance Program monitors work-related illness and injury from exposure to pesticides. Tests available right now for exposure monitoring are expensive, time-consuming, and involve special equipment and trained personnel.
Researchers at Washington State University collaborated with the NIOSH-funded Ag Center, Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center, on a study to work on this issue. They developed a simple, fast, and inexpensive blood test that accurately detects the level of exposure to potentially harmful pesticides among farm workers. The so-called sandwich ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test is unique in its ability to measure the level of immune response-triggering molecules, or antigens.
Much like commercially available pregnancy tests, this test consists of a treated strip that reacts in the presence of specific protein molecules, or enzymes. The treated strip changes color in the presence of enzymes produced by the liver after exposure to phosphorus-based pesticides. To verify the test’s accuracy, scientists measured the level of pesticide exposure in 124 blood samples from study participants who worked with pesticides in orchards or on cotton farms in Washington State or Pakistan. They found that the test accurately and quickly measured pesticide exposure by detecting pesticide-related enzyme activity and the total amount of enzyme in the blood. This study appeared in the journal, Biosensors and Bioelectronics. With the goal of making the test commercially available, scientists are now verifying its accuracy and developing software to enable its use in the field.
Details:
Grantome: Integrated Approach for Environmental Health Monitoring: Exposure Signatures of Pesticidesexternal icon
Simultaneous detection Of Dual Biomarkers From Humans Exposed To Organophosphorus Pesticides By Combination Of Immunochromatographic Test Strip And Ellman Assay external icon
Research Rounds: Novel Blood Test Quickly and Accurately Detects Pesticide Exposure
NIOSH Pesticide Illness & Injury Surveillance
Highlights from K01 Grants
Maker of PURELL® Sanitizer Brand Produces Video Featuring NIOSH-funded Healthcare Infection Prevention Study
Project Title: Impact of Patient Safety Climate on Infection Prevention Practices and Healthcare Worker and Patient Outcomes. Principal Investigator: A. Hessels
During FY2017, the inventor of the PURELL® sanitizer product brand, GOJO Industries Inc., developed a video featuring the work of NIOSH-funded researcher Amanda Hessels, PhD, MPH, RN. Her study focused on understanding whether healthcare workers’ perceptions of a positive job safety climate relate to improved adherence to standard precautions, resulting in lower levels of healthcare worker exposures and hospital patient infections. GOJO Industries Inc. posted the video on their YouTube channel and shared it with their staff and 900 others who work to prevent infection nationwide.
Hessels also conducted a webinar on her study as part of a Teleclass Education program by Webber Training Inc. More than 1,000 people attended the webinar and more than 6,000 accessed the webinar recording.
Details:
YouTube: the Relationship between Patient Safety Climate and Adherence to Standard Precautions
Grantome: Impact of Patient Safety Climate on Infection Prevention Practices and Healthcare Worker and Patient Outcomesexternal icon
Preventing Respiratory Infections in Healthcare Workers Using Math Models
Project Title: Preventing Occupational Infections in Healthcare Professionals Using Risk Models. Principal Investigator: L. Casanova
Healthcare workers face a high risk of developing infectious diseases, such as respiratory infections. This is because of their job tasks and their high likelihood of coming in contact with bacteria and viruses. This study strives to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses in healthcare settings. Researchers are developing complex mathematical models that describe how respiratory infections spread from patients to healthcare professionals. The models aim to find the various ways that healthcare workers face exposure to these illnesses and calculate their risks of becoming infected in multiple settings. Researchers plan to use the study findings to develop strategies to lessen healthcare workers’ risk of contracting respiratory illnesses.
Details:
Grantome: Preventing Occupational Infections in Healthcare Professionals Using Risk Modelsexternal icon
NIOSH Healthcare Workers
