Dermatological Complaints of Contact Dermatitis During the COVID-۱۹ Pandemic (۲۰۱۹-۲۰۲۱) Among Healthcare Workers of an Isfahan University-Affiliated Hospital, Iran

Background and aims: Using anti-septic and personal protective equipment (PPE) may cause contactdermatitis (CD) in hospital staff. During COVID-۱۹, the team used PPE and hand washing morefrequently. This study investigated the prevalence of CD and its related factors among hospital staffduring the COVID-۱۹ pandemic.Methods: Overall, ۳۶۰ participants were selected by proportion sampling from an Isfahan Universityaffiliatedhospital (Alzahra hospital) between ۲۰۱۹ and ۲۰۲۱. A checklist about demographic andworkplace variables, skin signs, and symptoms was distributed to samples. We assessed associationsbetween the frequencies of the worksite and cleaning product exposures and a symptom-baseddefinition of CD among current hospital workers.Results: The prevalence of hand dermatitis in participants and their mean age were ۸۴% and ۳۵.۷ ± ۸.۶years, respectively. In addition, the most reported symptoms were itching (۱۴۷, ۴۰%) and redness ofthe hand (۱۴۱, ۳۹%). Using gloves, especially latex and vinyl gloves, had a significant association withthe incidence of CD (P < ۰.۰۳). The frequency and time of hand washing had no significant relationshipwith dermatitis (P > ۰.۰۵).Conclusion: Setting up preventive actions and managing this condition are better to be influentialamong the policies of hospital managers given the high prevalence of CD among hospital workers.

Keywords:

Contact dermatitis , COVID-۱۹ , Hospitals workers , Medical staff