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Background: Hairdressers are at high risk of contact dermatitis (CD) due to skin exposure to numerous irritants and haptens in hair products in combination with frequent wet work. Objectives: To investigate the characteristics and incidence of CD among hairdressers in northeastern Italy. Methods: A total of 324 hairdressers who had been examined and patch tested in northeastern Italy from 1996 to 2016 were retrospectively identified, and compared with 9669 matched controls. Sensitization to allergens of the hairdressing series was analysed among hairdressers attending an occupational medicine clinic in Trieste, Italy. Incidence data were calculated from 1999 to 2016. Results: Sensitization to p-phenylenediamine, thiuram mix, and N-isopropyl-N'-phenylp-phenylenediamine was significantly associated with hairdressing and with hand/forearms dermatitis. Frequent sensitizers from hairdressing series were ammonium persulfate, toluene-2,5-diamine, and p-aminobenzene. The overall incidence of CD declined from 2003 (31.7 cases/10 000 workers) to 2016 (20.8 cases/10 000 workers). Conclusions: Sensitization to several haptens was significantly associated with hairdressing. The incidence of CD among hairdressers in northeastern Italy has declined in recent years, but is still high. Preventive efforts are needed to reduce the burden of CD in this professional group.

Background Health care workers (HCWs) are on the frontline, playing a crucial role in the prevention of infection and treatment of patients. Aims This study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of hospital-acquired coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection at work and related factors at the University Hospital of Trieste workers exposed to COVID-19 patients. Methods From March 1 to May 31, of 4216 employees, 963 were in contact with COVID-19 patients or colleagues and were followed up. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in nasopharyngeal swabs was determined every 3 days, by RT-PCR. Results During the follow-up period, 193 workers were positive for COVID-19 (5%), and 165 of these (86%) were symptomatic. We identified five major cluster outbreaks of COVID-19 infection in Trieste Hospitals, four of which occurred before the implementation of universal masking for HCWs and patients (1–14 March 2020). COVID-19 infection was significantly higher in high-risk ward workers (Infectious Diseases, and Geriatric and Emergency Medicine, odds ratio [OR] 13.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.8–31), in subjects with symptoms (OR 5.4; 95% CI 2.9–10) and in those with contacts with COVID-19 patients and colleagues (OR 2.23; 95% CI 1.01–4.9). Conclusions Hospital workers were commonly infected due to contact with COVID-19 patients and colleagues, mainly in the first 15 days of the pandemic, before the implementation of universal mask wearing of HCWs and patients. Repetitive testing and follow-up permitted the identification of COVID-19 cases before symptom onset, obtaining better infection prevention and control.

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Background Occupational skin diseases (OSDs) are common in healthcare workers (HCWs). Objectives To investigate and compare the incidence and clinical features of OSDs among HCWs before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Materials and Methods Incident cases of OSDs were investigated in the cohort of HCWs at Trieste Hospitals from 1 July 2018 (3340 workers) to 31 October 2021 (137 532 person‐months). Results The monthly incidence was ranging from 0 to 11.90 cases per 10 000 person‐months in pre‐COVID‐19 period (cumulative incidence 4.22; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.9–6.0) and from 0 to 13.61 cases per 10 000 person‐months in COVID‐19 period (cumulative incidence 5.06; 95% CI: 3.6–6.9). The incidence rate ratio (IRR) between COVID‐19 and pre‐COVID‐19 period was 1.22 (95% CI: 0.73–1.98). The incidence of OSDs in the COVID‐19 period was 6.1 (4.2–8.6) and 2.7 (95% CI: 1.1–5.6) cases × 10 000 person‐months for women and men, respectively, with an IRR of 2.25 (95% CI: 0.98–5.9). Incidence in nurses in the COVID‐19 period was 6.7 (95% CI: 4.2–10.2) cases × 10 000 person‐months. Conclusions Incidence of OSDs was a little bit higher during the COVID‐19 pandemic compared to the previous period but fluctuation of numbers were mainly related to calendar period, with higher incidence in winter and spring. Incidence data were higher than that observed in 2004–2013 in the same cohort. Face dermatitis cases doubled after the start of COVID‐19 pandemic. Overall data demonstrated a non‐significant increase of OSDs in HCWs during the pandemic, probably due to the preventive strategies set up in our cohort over the years.