Abstract
Disinfectans affect skin and cause the development of irritation dermatitis and contact allergic eczema, less often contact urticaria. Irritation or allergic asthma bronchiale, rhinitis and conjunctivitis, rarely a syndrome of reactive respiratory dysfunction, very rarely irritation dysfunction of vocal cords develop by inhalation.
The clinic of Occupational Diseases of the Teaching Hospital in Hradec Králové reported in 1996-2006 altogether 31 occupational skin diseases caused by disinfectants (29 contact allergic eczemas, 2 irritation dermatitis) containing mainly glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, glyoxale, hexachlorophene, isopropylalcohol, chlorhexidingluconate, peracetic acid, etc. Then, 9 occupational diseases of airways, were reported in the above mentioned period.
The authors present the results of control examination of the reported sample of patients from 2006-2007. Recommendations for increasing safety when using disinfectants are summarized in the conclusion.