Work Gloves Research Articles

Foodborne Viruses Detected Sporadically in the Fresh Produce and Its Production Environment in South Korea.

Contamination of fresh vegetables and berries with human enteric viruses is a major cause of food poisoning. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of norovirus GI, norovirus GII, hepatitis A virus (HAV), adenovirus, astrovirus, rotavirus, and male-specific coliphage systematically in fresh fruit and vegetables and associated agricultural environmental samples, including irrigation water, soil, and worker's gloves. Enteric viruses were detected by international standard methods (ISO/TS 15216), and male-specific coliphages were isolated using US EPA Method 1601. For the study, 773 samples were collected from June 2016 to April 2017, including Chinese cabbage (n = 244), cucumber (n = 98), lettuce (n = 73), strawberry (n = 120), soil (n = 191), irrigation water (n = 14), and gloves (n = 27). Two cucumber and two irrigation water samples were positive for norovirus GI, and one cucumber and two irrigation water samples were positive for norovirus GII. HAV was detected in one strawberry sample and one glove sample. The other tested foodborne viruses were not detected in any of the samples. Sixteen male-specific coliphages were isolated from Chinese cabbage, cucumber, lettuce, cherry tomato, soil, and irrigation water. The isolation of male-specific coliphage would be more practical to investigate the fecal contamination in produce rather than pathogenic viruses.

Effects of simulated pressure of wooden, plastic, and metal materials on the thermal insulation of cold-protective gloves of various designs

The paper proposes a new approach to selecting cold-protective gloves for workers by evaluating the effects of simulated pressure of wood, plastic, and metal materials on the thermal insulation of gloves of various designs. Thermal insulation tests involved three models of gloves offering stable thermal insulation at various temperatures. The tests were carried out on a thermal hand model according to EN 511:2006. In the study, three variants of contact surface were used: metal, plastic, and wood. It was found that the thermal insulation of protective gloves under pressure decreases and depends on the glove construction, surface type, ambient temperature, and pressure variant. The application of pressure decreased the mean thermal insulation of the tested mitts (variant 1) by 30.46% for metal, 21.32% for wood, and 23.04% for plastic at an ambient temperature of –10℃; by 23.12% for metal, 21.79% for wood, and 19.39% for plastic at 0℃; and by 29.88% for metal, 23.80% for wood, and 19.28% for plastic at 10℃. The smallest relative decline in glove thermal insulation for the wooden pressure-simulating element at –10℃ and for the plastic element at 10℃ and 0℃ was found. Therefore, when choosing gloves for manual work in a cold environment, this change in performance level should be taken into account.

Terms of Venery

Terms of Venery Christine G. Adams (bio) 1 The crow stared at me with its one good eye. The other eye ran down the side of its head—its black feathers wet, made blacker with blood. It was perched on my car. I offered it food, scattering crumbs over the white hood. I filled a saucer with water and offered it to the bird. It would not drink. I ran my familiar three-mile loop, and when my sneakers slapped the hot pavement of my cul-de-sac again, the bird turned its head, angling and focusing its eye in my direction. I watched it from inside my apartment. It tried to fly, its wings sputtering in the humid air, its feathers dusty. I tried to ignore it but couldn’t. I left my apartment, clad in leather work gloves, holding a striped cotton sheet. By that time, the crow had taken refuge in the shade of an azalea bush. I lowered myself to the ground near its pink blooms. The air was cool, dank with rotting leaves, and alive with the hum of bees frenzied by nectar. The crow hopped three paces into the undergrowth. I lurched forward on my belly, half-heartedly tossing the sheet through the branches, knowing already it would not reach the bird. 2 What about your children? I implored the professor groping me outside on a cold winter night. He had untucked my shirt, grabbing for me as I tried to twist out of his reach, and the cold air filled the space between my skin and the floating silk. He laughed. What kids? Who told you I have kids? He chuckled, reaching for my hips. I could see undergrads in the glow of the streetlamps nearby. I thought about calling out to them and then felt the word help sink away from my mouth and into the depths of my chest as he grabbed for my neck and pulled me closer. [End Page 9] I am told that our human intelligence sifts through information, allowing us to remember details that led to threats, to fear, to pain. I am told that the biological need for speech is that sharing information is often vital to survival. An investigator asks me, What else do you remember? I want to tell her that when he grabbed my neck to kiss me it felt as though my tongue became chalk, clogging my throat. 3 Corvids, the family of birds that encompasses ravens, jackdaws, magpies, and jays, are animals that we know to be as intelligent as some of those animals, such as dolphins and chimps, most beloved for their near-human performance on intelligence tests. Researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology note that the birds can both remember what humans have done and predict what humans will do. Crows have the ability to recognize and remember human faces. Researchers, wearing rubber caveman masks, captured and tagged crows. Others, wearing rubber Dick Cheney masks, looked on, neutral. After these encounters, the crows once captured by the cavemen scolded and harassed those wearing the caveman mask. Indeed, on a recent walk through campus, a researcher donned the mask just to see what would happen. He was scolded by nearly every bird he encountered, including those he had never seen or tagged. Scolding is a behavioral term for loud cackling cries and the following of a particular individual. On his walk, the birds’ behavior drew more attention than his rubber mask. His experience led him to develop an experiment which proved that not only do corvids remember faces they perceive as threatening, they also pass that knowledge on to those in their large social groups. 4 I grew up attending an all-girls school in the suburbs of Washington dc. It was where I learned to fold my hands neatly during weekly mass, to wear my gray kilt long enough that my fingertips did not touch the hem when I held my arms at my sides. On Fridays, though, many of the girls would pack into cars and drive to one of the all-boys schools to watch football, basketball, or lacrosse games. In the parking lot, we would...

Associate Finger Engagement During Manual Assembly in Automotive Production for Smart Wearable Systems

Electrical connection defects represent a significant source of overall defects during automotive assembly. Human detection of these defects during the assembly process has proved insufficient. To rework electrical connection defects, much time is spent uninstalling and reinstalling components such as the instrument panel, carpeting, and cover panels, which can be time-consuming and costly, as some parts are easily damaged, for a rework that may be as simple as fully seating a connector. This work aims to provide an understanding of which fingers and finger locations associates use to interact with objects during manual automotive assembly processes to better guide development of future wearable associate assembly assistance systems that will detect and inform the associate of potential defects at the point of assembly thereby reducing the complexity of rework. In this work, two types of flexible force sensors were used to measure finger activation and area of force application for automotive electrical connections. The flexible force sensors were layered into a standard work glove with sensors at each of the five fingertips, and for each connection type, a digital fingerprint of output signals was created for novice assembly users.

Tracing of Selected Viral, Bacterial, and Parasitic Agents on Vegetables and Herbs Originating from Farms and Markets.

Fresh vegetables and herbs are usually prepared and eaten raw without cooking or heating, which leads to a high risk of foodborne infection. The aim of the present study was to assess the contamination of raw vegetables, herbs, and the environment of food chains. Vegetable and herb samples originating both from the Czech Republic as well as from other countries were examined. The work was focused on the detection of commonly found, but also less frequently monitored foodborne pathogens, including viruses of the genus Norovirus (NoVs), hepatitis A virus (HAV), Listeria monocytogenes and Cronobacter spp. bacteria, and the parasites Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia intestinalis. All samples were analyzed using individual RT-qPCR/qPCR assays; bacterial pathogens were also simultaneously detected using culture methods. The prevalence of the studied microorganisms in 623 samples ranged from 0.6% to 44.3% for individual pathogens. None of the samples were positive for the presence of HAV. Analysis of 157 environmental samples from 12 farms revealed the presence of NoVs in the environment of four farms. NoVs were detected in water samples as well as on the hands and gloves of workers. Escherichia coli was detected in all farms in the environmental samples and in eight farms in water samples. However, no sample of water exceeded the level of 100 CFU/mL for E. coli. None of the samples of water were positive for the presence of the studied parasites. Vegetables and herbs available from Czech markets and farms may pose a certain risk of foodborne disease, especially in the case of NoVs and parasites. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study provides valuable information on the microbiological quality of raw vegetables and herbs available from Czech markets and farms. Good hygienic practices aimed at reducing the incidence of pathogenic agents on fresh produce should not be neglected. Emphasis should be placed on the control of irrigation water, especially with respect to norovirus contamination. It is appropriate to combine culture methods and qPCR methods for the detection of bacterial agents.

Evaluation Of Occupational Heat Strain Under Dry And Humid Conditions With Equivalent WBGT

PURPOSE: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist’s (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV), based on Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), is a commonly used tool to prevent occupational heat stress (core body temperature (Tc) elevation within +1°C or ≤ 38 °C). This study examined the hypothesis that a level of heat stress would be equivalent to different combinations of ambient temperature and relative humidity should it be matched to the equivalent in terms of WBGT. METHODS: All subjects provided informed consent approved by the NIOSH IRB. Eight healthy men (Age: 23±2 yrs.) wearing a cotton work coverall with a hardhat and work gloves underwent four cycles of an intermittent work-rest (15 min each, total 2 hours) under two ambient conditions characterized as either dry (45.5°C, 15% RH) (DRY) or humid (31°C, 84% RH) (HUM), but both equivalent to 30°C WBGT. The work was performed via a cycling exercise at a fixed rate of 350 watts metabolic heat production while the rest was given as sitting on a chair and removing gloves and headgear, with hydration ad lib. Tc, skin temperature (Tsk), Thermal sensation (TS), and Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) were measured during exercise. RESULTS: Measurement of Tc, TS, and RPE were not significantly different between DRY and HUM conditions. There was also no difference in Tc elevation (DRY: 0.8±0.4°C, HUM: 0.7±0.3°C) within the upper limit of TLV. However, Tsk was significantly higher in DRY condition than HUM during exercise (p≤0.05). The average amount of water intake was not significantly different between DRY (1187.5±258.8 ml) and HUMID (901.5±323.6 ml) throughout trials (P>0.05).Table: No title available.CONCLUSION: These data demonstrated that a level of heat stress is similar under different ambient temperature and RH when matched the same in WBGT. However, it is speculated that a prolonged working time (e.g. 4 to 8 hour work shift) would likely surpass the upper limit of ACGIH’s TLV.

건고추 생산 농장의 위생지표세균과 병원성미생물 오염도 조사

The purpose of this study was to investigate the main source of contamination of dried red pepper by assessing microbial loads on red peppers, washing water, washing machines, harvesting containers, and worker gloves that had come in contact with the dried red pepper. To estimate microbial loads, indicator bacteria (total bacteria, coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli) and pathogenic bacteria (E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Clostridium perfringens) were enumerated. The results showed that the numbers of indicator bacteria increased significantly after washing red peppers compared with that before washing (p<0.05). Moreover, E. coli and Listeria spp. were recovered from the red peppers after washing and from the ground water used in the washing process. The number of indicator bacteria on red peppers dried in the green house was lower than that on red peppers dried in a dry oven (p<0.05). However, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., L. monocytogenes, and C. perfringens were not detected. These results suggested that a disinfection technique may be needed during the washing step in order to prevent potential contamination. In addition, hygienic practices during the drying step using the dry oven, such as establishment of an optimal temperature, should be developed to enhance the safety of dried red pepper.

The effect of polyurethane and carnauba wax on the mechanical and physicochemical properties of acrylonitrile butadiene nitrile rubber coating working gloves

In this study, the effect of polyurethane (PU) and carnauba wax (CW) on the mechanical and physicochemical properties of acrylonitrile butadiene nitrile rubber coating gloves was investigated. Ther...

The effect of polyurethane and carnauba wax on the mechanical and physicochemical properties of acrylonitrile butadiene nitrile rubber coating working gloves

In this study, the effect of polyurethane (PU) and carnauba wax (CW) on the mechanical and physicochemical properties of acrylonitrile butadiene nitrile rubber coating gloves was investigated. Thermal decomposition and morphological characterizations were carried out using Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), respectively. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis was done to determine the chemical interactions between NBR and PU in the polymer matrix. After the vulcanization of NBR, including PU and CW, thermal stability was increased. The spectrums of FTIR showed that carboxyl groups of NBR were linked to the PU to form stable complexes between polymeric chains via H-bonding. SEM images showed that because CW acted as a dispersant for the colloidal particles, the surface appeared smooth compared with the non-containing PU/CW samples. Tensile and tear strength and abrasion resistance tests were conducted using the specimens of vulcanized NBR including PU/CW under uniaxial loading. Test specimens were prepared using hydraulic mold according to EN 388 standards. Cross-head speeds were chosen as 100 mm min−1. The chemical and morphological changes due to PU/CW had no significant effects on the macro-mechanical responses of the tensile and tear strength. However, it was obviously determined that the abrasion resistance was enhanced by the increase in the amount of CW.

The Effects of Industrial Protective Gloves and Hand Skin Temperatures on Hand Grip Strength and Discomfort Rating.

Daily working activities and functions require a high contribution of hand and forearm muscles in executing grip force. To study the effects of wearing different gloves on grip strength, under a variety of hand skin temperatures, an assessment of the maximum grip strength was performed with 32 healthy male workers with a mean age (standard deviation) of 30.44 (5.35) years wearing five industrial gloves at three hand skin temperatures. Their ages and anthropometric characteristics including body mass index (BMI), hand length, hand width, hand depth, hand palm, and wrist circumference were measured. The hand was exposed to different bath temperatures (5 °C, 25 °C, and 45 °C) and hand grip strength was measured using a Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer with and without wearing the gloves (chemical protection glove, rubber insulating glove, anti-vibration impact glove, cotton yarn knitted glove, and RY-WG002 working glove). The data were analyzed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, Pearson correlation coefficient, Tukey test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the within-subject design analysis. The results showed that wearing gloves significantly affected the maximum grip strength. Wearing the RY-WG002 working glove produced a greater reduction on the maximum grip when compared with the bare hand, while low temperatures (5 °C) had a significant influence on grip when compared to medium (25 °C) and high (45 °C) hand skin temperatures. In addition, participants felt more discomfort in both environmental extreme conditions. Furthermore, they reported more discomfort while wearing neoprene, rubber, and RY-WG002 working gloves.

A new methodology for measuring the vibration transmission from handle to finger whilst gripping

The transmission of vibration from hand-held tools via work gloves and into the operators' hands can be affected by several factors such as glove material properties, tool vibration conditions, grip force, and temperature. The primary aim of this study is to develop a new methodology to measure and evaluate vibration transmissibility for a human finger in contact with different materials, whilst measuring and controlling the grip force. The study presented here used a new bespoke lab-based apparatus for assessing vibration transmissibility that includes a generic handle instrumented for vibration and grip force measurements. The handle is freely suspended and can be excited at a range of real-world vibration conditions whilst being gripped by a human subject. The study conducted a frequency response function (FRF) of the handle using an instrumented hammer to ensure that the handle system was resonance free at the important frequency range for glove research, as outlined in ISO 10819: 1996: 2013, and also investigated how glove material properties and design affect the tool vibration transmission into the index finger (Almagirby et al. 2015). The FRF results obtained at each of six positions shows that the dynamic system of the handle has three resonance frequencies in the low frequency range (2, 11 and 17 Hz) and indicated that no resonances were displayed up to a frequency of about 550 Hz. No significant vibration attenuation was shown at frequencies lower than 150 Hz. The two materials cut from the gloves that were labelled as anti-vibration gloves (AV) indicated resonance at frequencies of 150 and 160 Hz. However, the non-glove material that did not meet the requirements for AV gloves showed resonance at 250 Hz. The attenuation for the three materials was found at frequencies of 315 Hz and 400 Hz. The level and position of the true resonance frequencies were found to vary between samples and individual subjects.

KEPATUHAN PENGGUNAAN SARUNG TANGAN DENGAN KECELAKAAN KERJA DI PERUSAHAAN DENGAN KECELAKAAN KERJA DI PERUSAHAAN PARQUET TEMANGGUNG

Abstrak
 
 Kepatuhan penggunaan sarung tangan dapat mempengaruhi terjadinya kecelakaan kerja. Perilaku sesuai aturan dan konsisten dalam memakai sarung tangan yang wajib digunakan saat bekerja sesuai bahaya dan risiko kerja untuk menjaga keselamatan pekerja dan orang di sekelilingnya. Tujuan penelitian ini yaitu, untuk mengetahui Hubungan antara Kepatuhan Penggunaan Sarung Tangan Terhadap Kecelakaan Kerja pada Pekerja di PT. Tanjung Kreasi Parquet Industry Temanggung. Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian analitik observasional dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Populasi berjumlah 207 pekerja dengan sampel sebanyak 66 pekerja (menggunakan teknik purposive sampling). Instrumen yang digunakan adalah angket. Analisis data dilakukan secara univariat dan bivariat (menggunakan uji chi square dengan α=0,05 dengan alternatif yaitu uji fisher). Hasil penelitian ini terdapat hubungan antara kepatuhan penggunaan sarung tangan dengan kecelakaan kerja pada pekerja PT. Tanjung Kreasi Parquet Industry yang menggunakan uji alternatif yaitu uji fisher dengan hasil p value 0,018 (<0,05) dengan OR (Odds Ratio), yaitu sebesar 6,14. Dari data tersebut responden yang tidak patuh menggunakan sarung tangan kain mempunyai kemungkinan 6,14 kali untuk mengalami kecelakaan kerja dibandingkan dengan responden yang patuh menggunakan sarung tangan kain. Saran yang diberikan kepada pekerja yaitu untuk selalu menggunakan sarung tangan kain saat jam kerja berlangsung.
 
 Abstract
 
 The obidience of using gloves could influence the working accident occurance. Obeying the rules and consistently using gloves are compulsory when working according to the working risks in order to keep the workers and the people arround safe. The aim of this research was to find out the correlation between the obidience of using gloves toward working accident of workers at PT. Tanjung Kreasi Parquet Industry Temanggung. This research was observational analytic study using cross sectional design. The population was 207 workers and the sample was 66 workers (using purposive sampling technique). This research used questionnaire as the instrument to collect the data. The data analysis was done using univariat and bivariat (using chi square test, α =0,05 and the alternative was fisher test). The result showed that there was a correlation between the obidience of using gloves toward working accident of PT. Tanjung Kreasi Parquet Industry workers using alternative test that was fisher test with p value 0,018 (<0,05) and OR (Odds Ratio) was 6,14. According to the data, the disobey respondent that did not use gloves had 6.14 times possibility of working accident compared with those who using gloves. The suggestion for the workers was to always use gloves when working.

Glove utilization in the prevention of cross transmission: a systematic review

Gloves are worn to protect hands from contamination from microorganisms and to reduce the risks of transmission of microorganisms from healthcare workers to patients and vice versa. However, gloves should be changed between patient contacts and hand washing is necessary before putting on gloves and immediately after removing gloves. The objective of this review was to evaluate and synthesize the best available research evidence that investigates clinical use of gloves in the prevention of cross transmission. Health care workers.Types of intervention(s): Glove use intervention. Types of outcomes: Contamination of healthcare workers' hands, transmission of infections, adherence to glove usage, inappropriate uses of gloves, and adherence to hand hygiene. Types of studies: Quasi-experimental studies and descriptive studies. The search sought to find published and unpublished studies. The time period of the search covered articles published from 2000 to 2012 in English and Thai. The databases searched included: MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Science Direct, Current Content Connect, Blackwell synergy, Thai Nursing Research Database, Thai thesis database, Digital Library of Thailand Research Fund, Research of National Research Council of Thailand, and Database of Office of Higher Education. Studies selected for retrieval were assessed by two independent reviewers for methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument software. Data extraction was performed using the standardized data extraction tool from the Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument software. A meta-synthesis was not possible due to the methodological heterogeneity of the included papers. The evidence was thus presented as a narrative summary. Twenty-three studies were included in this review. The results indicated that contamination of a healthcare worker's gloves with bacteria during routine care activities is common. The use of gloves can protect the hands of healthcare workers from bacterial contamination, but the protection afforded by the gloves was incomplete. Adherence to glove utilization among healthcare workers was suboptimal. Gloves were overused and often misused. The major break in compliance with glove use was failure to change gloves between procedures on the same patient. Inappropriate glove use can increase the risk of cross transmission. It is unclear if modifications in glove use alter compliance with hand hygiene among healthcare workers. Gloving can reduce acquisition of microorganisms on the hands. However, gloving does not completely prevent contamination of the hands. Compliance with glove use among healthcare workers is poor. Gloves were also overused and often misused. Inappropriate glove use can increase the risk of cross transmission via contaminated gloved hands. There is still not enough evidence to prove the influence of glove use on adherence to hand hygiene. This review strengthens the recent suggestion on the use of gloves to reduce bacterial contamination. However, gloving does not completely prevent contamination, thus emphasizing the need for hand antisepsis before and after patient contact. Intervention to improve the use of gloves and hand hygiene compliance after gloving in the healthcare settings should be implemented. Further studies should target poor compliers with glove use and promote strategies that can be evaluated.

Chromium released from leather - II: the importance of environmental parameters.

SummaryBackgroundApproximately 1–3% of the adult population in Europe are allergic to chromium (Cr). A new restriction in Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) based on the ISO 17075 standard has recently been adopted in the EU to limit Cr(VI) in consumer and occupational leather products to < 3 mg/kg.ObjectivesTo investigate the influence of storage conditions [relative humidity, temperature, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, and duration] on Cr release, and to assess several parameters relevant for occupational exposure (repeated exposure, wear, alkaline solutions, and sequential wet and dry exposures).Material and methodsA leather of relevance for work gloves was investigated for its release of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) under these different experimental conditions.ResultsRelative humidity (water content in leather) during storage prior to Cr extraction was the single most important parameter. Cr(VI) levels could vary from non‐detectable to levels significantly exceeding the restriction limit, depending on the relative humidity. Leather contact with alkaline solution and UV irradiation during storage could increase the Cr(VI) levels in subsequent extractions.ConclusionsThe amount of Cr(VI) in leather is not an intrinsic property, but is influenced by environmental conditions of relevance for occupations and skin exposure.

Semiquantitative Analysis of Gaps in Microbiological Performance of Fish Processing Sector Implementing Current Food Safety Management Systems: A Case Study

Fish processing plants still face microbial food safety-related product rejections and the associated economic losses, although they implement legislation, with well-established quality assurance guidelines and standards. We assessed the microbial performance of core control and assurance activities of fish exporting processors to offer suggestions for improvement using a case study. A microbiological assessment scheme was used to systematically analyze microbial counts in six selected critical sampling locations (CSLs). Nine small-, medium- and large-sized companies implementing current food safety management systems (FSMS) were studied. Samples were collected three times on each occasion (n = 324). Microbial indicators representing food safety, plant and personnel hygiene, and overall microbiological performance were analyzed. Microbiological distribution and safety profile levels for the CSLs were calculated. Performance of core control and assurance activities of the FSMS was also diagnosed using an FSMS diagnostic instrument. Final fish products from 67% of the companies were within the legally accepted microbiological limits. Salmonella was absent in all CSLs. Hands or gloves of workers from the majority of companies were highly contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus at levels above the recommended limits. Large-sized companies performed better in Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli, and S. aureus than medium- and small-sized ones in a majority of the CSLs, including receipt of raw fish material, heading and gutting, and the condition of the fish processing tables and facilities before cleaning and sanitation. Fish products of 33% (3 of 9) of the companies and handling surfaces of 22% (2 of 9) of the companies showed high variability in Enterobacteriaceae counts. High variability in total viable counts and Enterobacteriaceae was noted on fish products and handling surfaces. Specific recommendations were made in core control and assurance activities associated with sampling locations showing poor performance.

Obituary: John Phillip Nelson MD (1936-2013)

A dedicated member of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons® for more than 35 years, John Phillip Nelson MD (Fig. 1) passed away at his home in Scottsdale, AZ, USA on November 28, 2013 after a brief battle with a virulent cancer of his spine. He was 1 month short of his 77th birthday. Fig. 1 An accomplished surgeon, Dr. Nelson was also regarded as a true scientific investigator whose knowledge of prevention of surgical infections was sought after by experts in the total joint replacement field. A pioneer in clean-air operating environment, “Phil”, as he was known by his family, friends, and associates, wore many hats. Not only was he an accomplished surgeon, highly respected by his patients, colleagues, and students, but he was also regarded as a true scientific investigator whose unique knowledge of prevention of surgical infections was sought after by experts in the then-developing field of total joint replacement. Nelson was the lead author on the paper, Clean Room Operating Rooms. A Review of Surgical Applications and Our Experiences, his first study published in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® in 1973. He was an invited instructor in more than 20 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Instructional Courses. In addition, Phil participated in more than 40 postgraduate continuing education courses on reconstruction joint surgery, prevention of operative infection, and design of horizontal flow clean operating rooms. Whenever meeting with students or his peers in the profession to discuss a medical subject, Phil had a special knack of talking with you and not to you. But the other Phil, at home on his ranch, was revealed by his daughter, Wendy. “When at home, Phil traded surgical masks and scrubs for jeans and tattered shirts (the older and softer, the better), not to mention well-worn work gloves and an old western hat,” Wendy wrote via email. “Ranchers at heart, Phil and his wife, Charleen, managed a major quarter horse training and breeding farm while in Colorado. Phil didn’t ride horses, but he greatly enjoyed their company. Likewise, he relished the ranch life of driving tractors, tending gardens, mending fence and raking leaves.” Phil was predeceased by his wife in 1998 after 35 years of marriage. Born in Red Oak, IA, USA, Phil grew up in Fremont, NE, USA where he was exposed to the outdoor life that led him on a path of hunting, fishing, and raising animals whenever time permitted. He was awarded a MD degree from Northwestern University after attending Grinnel College. In 1969, Phil completed his orthopaedic residency at the Mayo Clinic, and settled into an orthopaedic practice in Denver, CO, USA for the next 20 years. As his daughter Wendy wrote, “Serendipity” was Phil’s favorite word — an expression of finding special or agreeable things when those things were not specifically sought after. His first bit of serendipity was meeting Charleen, his future wife, on an elevator at Northwestern University. Another serendipitous moment was later, when Wendy won a pony in a raffle at the age of 7, which ultimately led to a life of ranching for the Nelsons. Phil is survived by his four children — his son Christopher (wife Nancy and five grandchildren, Andrew, Bradley, Caroline, Michael, and Faith); daughter Wendy (husband Scot Claus and grandson Spencer); son Drew (wife Sharon and granddaughters Kaylee and Meghan); and son Joel. He also is survived by his brother, Dr. Paul Nelson of Omaha, NE, USA. Phil was predeceased by another brother, Mark Nelson. Phil also left behind some special friends including his cats, Milo and Chloe; his Rhode Island Red chicken, Big Red, and his beloved 33-year-old quarter horse mare, Brandy (Fig. 2). Fig. 2 Although he did not ride horses, Dr. Nelson greatly enjoyed their company.

Design options for improving protective gloves for industrial assembly work

The study investigated the effects of wearing two new designs of cotton glove on several hand performance capabilities and compared them against the effects of barehanded, single-layered and double cotton glove conditions when working with hand tools (screwdriver and pliers). The new glove designs were based on the findings of subjective hand discomfort assessments for this type of work and aimed to match the glove thickness to the localised pressure and sensitivity in different areas of the hand as well as to provide adequate dexterity for fine manipulative tasks. The results showed that the first prototype glove and the barehanded condition were comparable and provided better dexterity and higher handgrip strength than double thickness gloves. The results support the hypothesis that selective thickness in different areas of the hand could be applied by glove manufacturers to improve the glove design, so that it can protect the hands from the environment and at the same time allow optimal hand performance capabilities.

Hyperkeratotic Hand Eczema due to Use of Rubber Gloves While Driving.

Dear Editor: Hyperkeratotic hand eczema (HHE) is defined as a lesion of hand dermatitis that shows thick hyperkeratotic plaques with or without deep fissures. This diagnosis was established in 2%~5% of patients with hand dermatitis1,2. HHE is considered to have multiple causes, such as exposure to repetitive irritation, atopy, contact allergy, and friction3. Previous studies have revealed that contact sensitization is less common in HHE2. Here, we report a case of chronic HHE associated with contact sensitization to black rubber mix and thiuram mix. A 50-year-old nonatopic male patient presented with chronic HHE that had been refractory to previous treatments for the last 2 years. Physical examination revealed relatively well-demarcated erythematous scaly plaques on the palmar sides of both hands (Fig. 1A). He was a salesman who had always driven a car to his meetings. For 3 years, he had been wearing his work gloves, which had rubber on the palmar side, to prevent his hand from sliding off the steering wheel while driving because of his palmar hyperhidrosis (Fig. 2A). He had received eczema treatment with potent topical corticosteroid creams and moisturizer at local clinics; however, his symptoms did not improve. Then, he was referred to our hospital. We performed patch tests with a thin-layer rapid use epicutaneous (TRUE) test kit (Mekos Laboratories AS, Hillerod, Denmark). There were positive reactions to thiuram mix(++) and black rubber mix(++) at 48 h, and additional positive reactions to p-tertbutylphenol formaldehyde resin(+) and p-phenylenediamine(+) at 96 h (Fig. 2B). He was advised to apply a topical steroid with medium potency and to drive without wearing gloves, and his symptoms improved 2 weeks later (Fig. 1B). Thereafter, he underwent use tests with the work gloves, which worsened his symptoms. Fig. 1 (A) Localized scaly yellowish plaques on the palmar sides of both hands. (B) Two weeks after avoiding exposure to the offending allergen. Fig. 2 (A) Blue rubber dotted work gloves. (B) Positive patch test reactions to thiuram mix(++), black rubber mix(++), p-tertbutylphenol formaldehyde resin(+), and p-phenylenediamine(+) at 96 h. A hyperkeratotic morphology is known to be less frequently associated with contact sensitization, irritant exposure, and atopic dermatitis1. Thus, strongly positive reactions to more than two materials during the patch test have clinical implications. We made a diagnosis of HHE due to repetitive use of the work gloves on the basis of the patient's history, patch tests, and use tests. Thiurams are accelerants that are commonly used to manufacture natural rubber latex products. These mixes are present in natural or synthetic rubber products making up materials that are used either at work or at home4. Many tire workers are sensitized to black rubber mix. Concerning nonoccupational exposure, it has been shown that black rubber footgear and the rubber tips of walking sticks can also cause contact dermatitis5. Positive reaction to p-tertbutylphenol formaldehyde resin is related to contact with waterproof glue, bonded leather, and construction materials, whereas that to p-phenylenediamine is related to contact with permanent or semipermanent hair dyes, dyed textiles, and cosmetics; however, these are less relevant compared with our case. In conclusion, this report suggests that patients with HHE should be comprehensively evaluated through history taking and correctly treated by avoiding the suspicious material.

서울지역 식육판매업소의 미생물 오염도 조사

This survey was conducted to evaluate the microbial contamination level of butcher's shops in Seoul, Korea. For microbial inspections, a total of 584 samples (146 cotton work gloves, 146 utensils and equipments, 154 beef samples, 138 pork samples) were collected from butcher's shops. E. coli and pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia enterocolitica, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and E. coli O157:H7 were tested in the samples. As a result, the level of aerobic plate count (APC) ranged <TEX>${\leq}10^4\;CFU/cm^2$</TEX> from utensils and equipments, <TEX>$10^1{\sim}10^9$</TEX> CFU/glove from cotton work gloves and <TEX>${\leq}10^6$</TEX> CFU/g from meat. The APC level of E. coli ranged <TEX>${\leq}10^1\;CFU/cm^2$</TEX> from utensils and equipments, <TEX>${\leq}10^5$</TEX> CFU/glove from cotton work gloves, and <TEX>${\leq}10^3$</TEX> CFU/g from meat, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 2 beef samples, 1 pork sample, and 10 used cotton work gloves. Yersinia enterocolitica was detected in 3 beef samples, 1 pork sample, and 3 used cotton work gloves. Listeria monocytogenes was detected in 2 used cotton work gloves. In order to improve the sanitation status of butcher's shops, application of HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) or SSOP (Sanitation Standard Operating Procedure), regular hygiene education, and continuous monitoring for microorganisms will be required.

Hepatitis E virus seroprevalence and risk factors for individuals in working contact with animals

BackgroundIn industrial countries genotypes 3 and 4 of HEV are detected in swine, wild boar, deer and rabbits, and they are associated with autochthonous infections suggesting the existence of zoonotic HEV infections, compatible with the putative involvement of undercooked pork and big game products as a source of infection. ObjectivesTo evaluate the prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in different population groups in contact with animals and to investigate risk factors for HEV infection. Study designSerum samples were collected from 859 healthy French subjects, including pig farm workers, forestry workers and individuals without working contact with animals (control group). In addition, 58 swine veterinarians were included in the study. Subjects were interviewed using a structured questionnaire, and anti-HEV antibodies were investigated using a sensitive and specific sandwich ELISA. ResultsAnti-Hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibodies were detected in 26% of control population, and in 36% and 44% of forestry and pig farm workers, respectively. In addition, an increase in seroprevalence from the north to the south of France was observed (30.2% versus 40.7%). Consumption of pork liver sausage (AOR 4.4, p<10−4), occupational contact with animals (AOR 1.58, p=0.038 for forestry workers and AOR 2.51, p<10−4 for pig farm workers), and living in southern France (AOR 1.47, p=0.02), were independent risk factors. Wearing working gloves and boots might reduce HEV infection. ConclusionsOccupational exposure to animals and consuming raw or undercooked pork liver sausage or pork liver play a significant role in HEV transmission in industrial countries.