No abstract

CRD42018084131.

No abstract

No abstract

Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) are commonly infected by SARS-CoV-2 and represent one of the most vulnerable groups. Adequate prevention strategies are necessary to guarantee HCWs’ safety, as well as to prevent dissemination of the infection among patients. Aims To describe a case series of SARS-CoV-2-positive HCWs in a large public healthcare organization in Milan (Italy) during the most devastating weeks of the epidemic and analyse the sources, symptoms and duration of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods This study included 172 SARS-CoV-2-positive HCWs who were infected between the 25th of February and the 7th of April 2020. A nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) and RT-PCR were used to indicate. Results Initially, the most common sources of infection were other positive HCWs (49%). Medical doctors and nursing assistants were most frequently infected, with infection rates of 53/1000 and 50/1000, respectively. COVID-19 departments were less affected than internal medicine, surgery, intensive care, or emergency room. The most commonly reported symptom was mild cough, while loss of smell (anosmia) and loss of taste (ageusia) were reported as moderate and severe by 30–40% of HCWs. The time necessary for 50% of workers to recover from the infection was 23 days, while it took 41 days for 95% of HCWs to become virus-free. Conclusions HCWs are commonly infected due to close contacts with other positive HCWs, and non-COVID departments were most affected. Most HCWs were asymptomatic or subclinical but contact tracing and testing of asymptomatic HCWs help identify and isolate infected workers.

ObjectiveTo study the source, symptoms, and duration of infection, preventive measures, contact tracing and their effects on SARS-CoV-2 epidemic among healthcare workers (HCW) in 2 large hospitals and 40 external healthcare services in Milan (Italy) to propose effective measures to control the COVID-19 epidemic among healthcare workers. DesignEpidemiological observational study. SettingTwo large hospitals and 40 territorial healthcare units, with a total of 5700 workers. Participants143 HCWs with a SARS-CoV-2 positive nasopharyngeal (NF) swab in a population made of 5,700 HCWs. Main outcome measuresClinical data on the history of exposure, contacts inside and outside of the hospital, NF swab dates and results. A daily online self-reported case report form consisting of the morning and evening body temperature and 11 other symptoms (

ObjectivesThe primary aim of this cross-sectional research study was to quantify upper limb muscle activity among workers performing milking tasks in large-herd dairy parlors.MethodsSurface electromyography (sEMG) from the trapezius, anterior deltoid, biceps brachii, wrist flexors, and wrist extensors muscles of 26 dairy workers were used to create muscle activity profiles for the milking tasks common in large-herd dairy parlors. Functional maximum voluntary contractions (fMVC) were collected to normalize the sEMG data for appropriate comparisons. Anthropometric measurements were recorded from each worker.ResultsThe biceps brachii had the highest muscle activity (14.58% fMVC) of the upper limb muscles measured, exceeding previously established recommendations for working tasks. The anterior deltoid had the least amount of activity, while the upper trapezius had the least amount of muscular rest during milking work. Worker stature was negatively associated with upper limb muscle activity.ConclusionMilking tasks in large-herd dairy parlors have significant effects on the upper limb muscle activity of workers. The muscle activity of biceps brachii during normal work tasks exceeded the recommended safe limit. Wrist flexors and upper trapezius approached the recommended limit. The study findings suggest that milking tasks in large-herd dairies may increase the worker’s risk for developing musculoskeletal symptoms and possibly musculoskeletal disorders.

No abstract