Ethylene oxide burns. A hospital outbreak involving 19 women

Biró, László Péter; Fisher, Alexander A.; Price, Ely

doi:10.1001/archderm.110.6.924

Cited by 23 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…LaDage reported a case of facial burns caused by an anesthesia mask sterilized by EO gas, 14 and Biro et al reported cases of buttock and back burns in postoperative patients after contact with EO-sterilized reusable surgical gowns and drapes. 15 Fisher reported a case of hand burns caused by EO-sterilized gloves, 16 and Cardenas-Camanena reported a case of burns caused by inappropriately ventilated EO-sterilized breast implants. 17 Karacalar and Karacalar 18 reported a chemical burn caused by an EO-sterilized blood pressure cuff.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethylene oxide burn in a chemical plant worker: a case report

Kim

Roh

2021

Ann Occup Environ Med

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Background Ethylene oxide is a chemical agent that is widely used for the sterilization of medical equipment and the manufacture of chemicals. Although ethylene oxide burns are frequent and can be severe, many workers are unaware of their risks. Case presentation A 45-year-old man presented with painful exudative lesions on the right foot after working with ethylene oxide solution in a chemical plant. The patient stated that the solution had percolated through his shoe and he had not washed the solution off for 5 hours. Symptoms, including pain and erythema, appeared after a delay of more than 12 hours from the time of initial exposure. The skin of his right foot was irrigated with saline and covered with a wet dressing and topical antibiotics in the emergency department. The patient was followed up for 4 weeks at an outpatient clinic. Conclusions Ethylene oxide causes skin irritation, dermatitis, and burns in severe cases. Since skin reactions can be delayed for more than 12 hours after exposure, it is important to remove contaminated shoes and clothing immediately and wash the exposed area even in the absence of symptoms. It is also necessary to provide the appropriate protective equipment and educate workers on the dangers of ethylene oxide.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethylene oxide burn in a chemical plant worker: a case report

Kim

Roh

2021

Ann Occup Environ Med

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“…EtO is a known strong irritant [ 1 ]. Severe postoperative burns from re-usable surgical gowns and drapes that had been sterilized with EtO and not properly ventilated were reported by Biro and colleagues [ 13 ]. EtO residues varied between 3,600 ppm and 10,800 ppm.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethylene oxide as an occupational contact allergen – an underestimated problem?

Breuer¹,

Worm²,

Skudlik³

et al. 2017

ALS

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Background: Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a volatile epoxy compound which is used to sterilize medical devices. EtO may cause irritant contact dermatitis, but only few cases of allergic contact dermatitis have been reported yet. Objectives: About 20 employees of a department for surgery developed eczematous skin reactions at the contact areas to wrist bands of surgical gowns which had been sterilized with EtO. Patch tests were performed to exclude contact allergy. Methods: Due to the volatility of EtO, patch tests were done with epichlorohydrin (0.1% pet., 1% pet.) which is an epoxy compound chemically related to EtO. Results: 7/8 patients and 4 healthy control persons showed non-allergic irritant reactions to 1.0% epichlorohydrin. 1.0% epichlorohydrin may have induced an iatrogenic sensitization in one of the control persons. None of the control persons reacted to 0.1% epichlorohydrin. Allergic contact dermatitis to EtO and a cross sensitization to epichlorohydrin was diagnosed in a nurse who showed an allergic crescendo patch test reaction to 0.1% epichlorohydrin. Conclusions: EtO can act as an occupational contact allergen in health personnel, a problem that may have been underestimated in the past due to methodological difficulties in patch testing. When allergic contact dermatitis to EtO is suspected, a patch test to 0.1% epichlorohydrin should be performed.

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“…Estudos realizados mostram que a exposição prolongada ao OE envolve conseqüências como carcinogenicidade, anormalidades reprodutivas e defeitos neurológicos, tendo como efeitos principais, dispnéia, dor de cabeça, náusea, vômito, queimaduras, irritação de olhos e respiratória dentre outros , conforme comprovado nos estudos a seguir. BIRO et al (1974), citaram ocorrência em 19 pacientes hospitalizadas que adquiriram queimaduras de moderadas a graves, devido ao uso de roupas e campos hospitalares com resíduos de OE. SALINAS et al (1981) reportam paciente com seqüelas neurológicas desenvolvidas como resultado de uma intoxicação aguda pelo OE.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Aeração de artigos odonto-medico-hospitalares reprocessados a oxido de etileno

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Ethylene oxide burns. A hospital outbreak involving 19 women

Cited by 23 publications

References 7 publications

Ethylene oxide burn in a chemical plant worker: a case report

Ethylene oxide burn in a chemical plant worker: a case report

Ethylene oxide as an occupational contact allergen – an underestimated problem?

Aeração de artigos odonto-medico-hospitalares reprocessados a oxido de etileno

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