Prevalence, risk factors, and prevention of occupational contact dermatitis among professional cleaners: a systematic review

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and prevention of occupational contact dermatitis (OCD), as well as risk factors and consequences of OCD among professional cleaners. Methods A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was performed using Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. Results Thirty-nine studies containing over 109.000 participants were included in the review. The prevalence of OCD varied between 2.2% and 30.1%. Main occupational risk factors for developing OCD among cleaners included wet work and irritants in cleaning products (bleach, chlorine, ammonia, multi-use-cleaning) and skin contact to metal. The most common contact allergies included rubber, biocides, nickel/cobalt, and perfumes. Other risk factors were inconsistent use of protective gloves and low educational level. Consequences associated with OCD included significant impairment in quality of life, tendency to have unscheduled absence from work, sick leave, increased rate of disability, and recognized degree of injury. Only one prevention study has been published investigating the effect of an educative course in skin-protective behavior in cleaners. The study reported a higher degree of knowledge of skin protection, a decrease in the severity of hand eczema, and a shift toward fewer daily hand washings at follow-up after 3 months. Conclusion Our study proves that OCD is common in cleaners, and the main risk factors included wet work, irritants, and contact allergies, as well as inconsistent use of protective gloves and low educational level. More focus and a greater number of studies are needed on skin protection in this population.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and prevention of occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) in professional cleaners. Wet work, irritants, and contact allergies were identified as the main risk factors. Consistent use of protective gloves and higher educational level were also found to be important. The consequences of OCD included impaired quality of life, increased absence from work, sick leave, disability, and recognized injury. More studies on skin protection in this population are needed.