ignorini S

Prevalence and incidence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi and to tick-borne encephalitis virus in agricultural and forestry workers from Tuscany, Italy.

The ticks Ixodes persulcatus and Ixodes ricinus are the main vectors of both Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus in Eurasia. Borrelia burgdorferi is the cause of Lyme borreliosis, and TBE is a biphasic meningoencephalitis induced by an arbovirus belonging to the flavivirus family. The principal aims of the current investigation were (i) to determine the frequency of serological evidence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and TBE infections in healthy agricultural and forestry workers, (ii) to determine the incidence of seroconversion for antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and TBE virus in Tuscan workers during a 1-year survey; and (iii) to assess the occupational risk for agricultural and forestry activities in a defined area (Tuscany, Italy). A total of 412 blood samples were taken from agricultural and forestry workers, and information on age, duration of employment, and history of tick bites was collected in a questionnaire to establish the risk factors for the diseases. Three hundred sixty-five blood donors from the same region served as controls. To estimate the rate of seroconversion, 176 of the agricultural and forestry workers were tested 1 year later. IgG and IgM antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and TBE virus were detected in serum by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmed by Western blot analysis for Borrelia burgdorferi and by a test for inhibition of hemagglutination for TBE. Antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi were more frequent among the workers than in the control group (7.8% vs. 4.9% in the IgG-IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and 7.03% vs. 3.56% in the confirmatory test). No seropositivity was observed for TBE virus. Eighteen of 176 subjects who underwent a second blood test developed specific antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi within 1 year.

Effects of low-dose solvents on the blood of art restorers

Effects on the Blood among Art Restorers: Francesco Tomei, et al. Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”—Restoration of art works is usually assessed from an artistic viewpoint, and little attention is paid to the restorers’ health. There appear to be no specific published reports. Art restoration is a craftsmans job, often done by students as part of their art courses, and they are exposed to low doses of a hard‐to‐classify range of different substances. This study employed a protocol designed for use in the workplace to check whether art restoration work had effects on the blood of the young people doing it. We studied 65 art restorer students and teachers, most of them young, who did different types of restoration work: on stone and archaeological findings, frescoes, paintings on wood and canvas, paper and parchment, plaster, fabrics, metals, wood or painted linings. Seventy‐one non‐exposed workers were compared as controls. We found significant reductions in RBC, Hb and Ht among exposed workers but no change in WBC. These findings suggest there may be problems in the effect on the blood of art restorers exposed to low doses of solvents. It would appear useful for these workers to undergo periodic blood screening tests, and the protocol we employed appeared suitable for identifying subjects at risk in their workplace.

Laboratory and occupational medicine: considerations and perspectives regarding biological risk

SummaryBackgroundWe considered some aspects of laboratory medicine and occupational medicine, with special reference to biological risk, looking for those elements that could be essential parts of both medical fields.MethodsWe evaluated the national and international literature on biological risk with particular attention to the main features of laboratory and occupational medicine, including errors sources, quality, concept of risk, guidelines and risk reduction.ResultsRisk management, training, communication, involvement and participation of different professionals are characteristics of both disciplines, and it is important to promote a risk culture in order to mitigate biological risk.ConclusionsThe study of biological risk should include risk assessment and management, through a multidisciplinary approach aimed at eliminating and/or reducing risks. The spread of new methodologies has led to improvement in the study of biological risk and better integration between laboratory and occupational medicine.RiassuntoPremesseSono stati considerati alcuni aspetti riguardanti la medicina di laboratorio e occupazionale con particolare riferimento al rischio biologico, mettendo in evidenza alcuni elementi che possono essere parti essenziali di entrambi i campi della medicina.MetodiIn tale lavoro è stata studiata la letteratura nazionale e internazionale sul rischio biologico, con particolare attenzione alle principali caratteristiche della medicina di laboratorio e occupazionale: fonti di errori, qualità, concetto di rischio, linee guida, riduzione del rischio.RisultatiLa gestione del rischio, la formazione, la comunicazione, il coinvolgimento e la partecipazione di diverse figure professionali sono caratteristiche principali di entrambe le discipline ed è importante promuovere una cultura del rischio al fine di mitigare il rischio biologico.ConclusioniLo studio del rischio biologico dovrebbe includere la valutazione e la gestione del rischio, attraverso un approccio multidisciplinare volto a eliminare e/o ridurre il rischio. La diffusione di nuove metodologie ha consentito di migliorare lo studio del rischio biologico e una migliore integrazione tra medicina di laboratorio e medicina del lavoro.