Workplace Activity in Health Professionals Exposed to Chemotherapy Drugs: An Otoneurological Perspective

Abstract Introduction The manipulation of antineoplastic drugs presents high risk for accidents and occupational diseases. Objective To evaluate the auditory and vestibular systems of workers who are exposed to chemotherapeutic treatment in the University Hospital of Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil, and to identify the use of individual protection equipment, related to the obtained results. Methods This study is a cross-sectional study using a quantitative method. We evaluate 33 male and female workers, ranging from 21-60 years old, of the nursing and pharmacy sectors. The workers underwent conventional Audiologic Assessment; Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions; and Computerized Vectoelectronystagmography. Results The majority of the sample was female (90.9%). Individual protection equipment was used by 90.9% of the workers. Complaints of dizziness were reported by 56.25% of nursing workers and 52.94% of pharmacy workers. Audiological and vestibular assessment results were within normal limits, 96.97% and 74.20%, respectively. However, audiometric configuration of notch type was identified in 75.75% of all workers. Audiometric notches (76%) and altered caloric test (100%) were often associated with decreased use of coal masks. Conclusion Among the workers evaluated, the vestibulocochlear system was within the normal limits. The presence of notch configuration indicates the need to use individual protection equipment.

Qualidade de vida e aspectos auditivos de trabalhadores do transporte coletivo urbano / Quality of life and aspects of hearing of collective urban transport workers

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar a qualidade de vida de trabalhadores do transporte coletivo urbano, associadamente ao seu conhecimento e queixas sobre audição, zumbido e tontura. Métodos: descritivo, qualitativo e transversal. A coleta foi realizada no Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria, com amostra de 26 profissionais, submetidos à versão abreviada do questionário de avaliação de qualidade de vida - WHO Quality of Life-Bref Questionnaire (WHOQOL - Bref) - e a um questionário sobre conhecimento e queixas relacionadas a audição, tontura e zumbido. Os dados foram analisados por meio do Software Statística versão 9.0, considerando um nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: a amostra caracterizou-se por 100% de indivíduos do sexo masculino, com média de idade de 38,03 anos e tempo médio de serviço de 11,29 anos; 88,46% dos sujeitos trabalhavam em contato direto com o trânsito urbano e expostos a ruídos no ambiente externo à empresa. Quanto ao perfil auditivo, 88,46% referiram ouvir bem. Quanto às queixas: 23,07% relataram zumbido e 26,92% tontura. Com relação aos hábitos de prevenção de perda auditiva, 73,07% referiram não adotar nenhuma conduta. As respostas do WHOQOL-Bref evidenciaram uma boa percepção de qualidade de vida destes sujeitos. Conclusão: os trabalhadores do transporte coletivo avaliados no presente estudo apresentaram um bom nível de qualidade de vida, consideráveis conhecimentos e limitadas queixas no que diz respeito aos temas audição, zumbido e tontura.

ABSTRACT Purpose: evaluating the quality of life of workers in the urban public transport, in association to its attention and complaints about hearing, tinnitus and dizziness. Methods: descriptive, qualitative and transversal. Data collection was performed at the University Hospital of Santa Maria, with sample of 26 professionals, who underwent abbreviated version of quality of life assessment questionnaire - WHO Quality of Life-Bref Questionnaire (WHOQOL - Bref) - and a questionnaire about knowledge and complaints related to hearing, dizziness and tinnitus. Data were analyzed using the software Statistica version 9.0, considering a 5% significance level. Results: the sample was characterized by 100% of males, with a mean age of 38.03 years and mean duration of 11.29 years of service; 88.46% of the subjects worked in direct contact with urban traffic and exposed to noise in the external environment to the company. As for the audio profile, 88.46% reported good hearing. As for the complaints: 23.07% 26.92% reported tinnitus and dizziness. With regard to hearing loss prevention habits, 73.07% reported not taking any conduct. The WHOQOL-Bref responses showed a good perception of quality of life of these subjects. Conclusion: the workers of public transport in the present study showed a good level of quality of life, considerable knowledge and limited complaints with regard to hearing issues, tinnitus and dizziness.

Morphological analysis of the vestibular system of guinea pigs poisoned by organophosphate / Análise morfológica do sistema vestibular de cobaias intoxicadas por organofosforado

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: The vestibular system is responsible for body balance. There are substances that damage it, causing dizziness; these are termed vestibulotoxic substances. Agrochemicals have been investigated for ototoxicity because of studies that identified dizziness as a recurrent symptom among rural workers' complaints. OBJECTIVE: To histopathologically evaluate the vestibular system in guinea pigs exposed to an organophosphate, and to identify the drug's effects on this system. METHODS: Experimental clinical study. Eighteen guinea pigs were used; six of them poisoned with the organophosphate chlorpyrifos at doses of 0.5 mg/kg/day and seven of them at 1 mg/kg/day; and a control group of five guinea pigs was exposed to distilled water, all for 10 consecutive days. Later, ciliary tufts of saccule and utricle maculae were counted by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: Comparing the groups, a one-way ANOVA test for the variable "saccule" ( p = 0.0569) and a Kruskal-Wallis test for the variable "utricle" ( p = 0.8958) were performed, revealing no difference among groups in both variables. CONCLUSION: The histopathologic analysis of the vestibular system of guinea pigs exposed to an organophosphate showed no difference in the amount of ciliary tufts of saccule and utricle maculae at the doses tested, although the result for the variable "saccule" was considered borderline, showing a trend for significance.

RESUMO INTRODUÇÃO: O sistema vestibular é responsável pelo equilíbrio corporal. Existem substâncias que o danificam, causando tontura; são chamadas vestibulotóxicas. Agrotóxicos tornaram-se objeto de investigação da ototoxicidade a partir de pesquisas que apontaram tontura como sintoma recorrente entre as queixas de trabalhadores rurais. OBJETIVO: Constitui-se em avaliar a histopatologia do sistema vestibular de cobaias expostas a organofosforados, identificando os efeitos nesse sistema. MÉTODO: É um estudo clínico experimental, que utilizou 18 cobaias, sendo seis intoxicadas com organofosforadoclorpirifós na dose de 0,5 mg/kg/dia; sete na dose de 1 mg/kg/dia, e grupo controle com cinco cobaias expostas a água destilada, durante 10 dias consecutivos. Posteriormente realizou-se a contagem dos tufos ciliares nas máculas dos sáculos e utrículos através microscopia eletrônica de varredura. RESULTADOS: Na comparação intergrupos, para a variável sáculo realizou-se o teste ANOVA one-way (p = 0,0569); para a variável utrículo, utilizou-se o teste Kruskal-Wallis (p = 0,8958), revelando não haver diferença entre os grupos em ambas as variáveis. CONCLUSÃO: Análise histopatológica do sistema vestibular de cobaias expostas a organofosforado não demonstrou diferença na quantidade de tufos ciliares nas máculas dos sáculos e utrículos nas doses testadas, apesar do resultado para a variável sáculo ser considerado limítrofe mostrando uma tendência a significância.

Avaliação funcional do sistema vestibular de cobaias intoxicadas agudamente por organofosforado por meio da prova calórica / Functional evaluation of the vestibular system of guinea pigs poisoned by an organophosphate through caloric stimulation

OBJETIVO: avaliar o funcionamento do sistema vestibular de cobaias expostas ao organofosforado clorpirifós, de forma aguda, por meio da prova calórica da eletronistagmografia. MÉTODOS: a pesquisa do tipo experimental realizou a eletronistagmografia de cobaias expostas a organofosforado durante 10 dias consecutivos, nas doses 0,5mg/kg/dia e 1,0mg/kg/dia por via intraperitoneal e comparadas com grupo controle que recebeu administração de água destilada. Foi realizada prova calórica gelada (10ºC) e comparadas as variáveis frequência de aparecimento de nistagmos em 10 segundos (u/s) e velocidade angular da componente lenta (º/s). RESULTADOS: os resultados não demonstraram diferença estatisticamente significante na comparação das variáveis entre os grupos. CONCLUSÃO: conclui-se que nas doses testadas o agrotóxico organofosforado clorpirifós não causou danos funcionais detectáveis na prova calórica. .

PURPOSE: this study aimed to assess the functioning of the vestibular system of guinea pigs exposed to the organophosphate chlorpyrifos, acutely, through caloric stimulation electronystagmography. METHODS: the research conducted an experimental electronystagmography of guinea pigs exposed to organophosphate for 10 consecutive days, at doses 0.5 mg / kg / day and 1.0 mg / kg / day intraperitoneally and compared with a control group that received distilled water administration. We performed caloric ice (10 º C) and compared the variables frequency of appearance of nystagmus in 10 seconds (u / s) and angular velocity of the slow component (º / s). Results: the results showed no statistically significant difference in the comparison of variables between groups. CONCLUSION: we conclude that the tested doses of the pesticide organophosphate chlorpyrifos caused no detectable functional damage in the caloric test. .