High frequency of carpal tunnel syndrome and associated factors: A cross-sectional study in Peruvian workers from agro-export industry.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a peripheral mononeuropathy caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist and has been reported in workers who perform repetitive movements that involve actions of sustained grasping of vibrating objects. We carried out a cross-sectional analytical study in March 2018 to identify the factors associated with the CTS among workers of agro-export companies in Ica-Peru. CTS confirmation in our study was based on having at least 1 positive screening test (Tinel or Phalen) and a presumptive result of CTS by the Kamath and Stothard Questionnaire. We carried out 4 Poisson regression models to evaluate the factors associated with CTS based on epidemiological and statistical criteria. We enrolled 112 agro-export workers in production (42.0%), packing (35.7%), and administration (22.3%) working areas. The CTS frequency in Peruvian agro-export workers in production, packing, and administrative working area were 78.7%, 45.0%, and 28.0%, respectively. The bivariate analysis found a relationship between the CTS with age, female sex, sports practice, job seniority in the working area (year), and repetitive wrist movements (hours per day). In the multivariate analysis, only job seniority in the working area (year) and repetitive wrist movements maintained their association with CTS. Occupational factors are significantly associated with a high frequency of CTS, such as job seniority in the working area (year) and repetitive wrist movements in agro-export workers. Surveillance programs should be held to prevent, reduce, and monitor workers' health status.

Quantitative Fit Testing on Filtering Facepiece Respirators in Use by Peruvian Healthcare Workers Caring for Tuberculosis Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: PROFIT Study 2020.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has promoted a shortage of filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) and the emergence of new FFRs brands. We aimed to determine the fit provided by in-use FFRs in Peruvian healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We enrolled 279 HCWs from 37 primary healthcare centers with highest burden of care for TB in Peru, of which 263 were assessed using quantitative fit tests (QNFT). Results were expressed as real-time fit factor (rt-FF) and overall fit factor (overall-FF), which was categorized as ≥100 (optimal result), 50-99, and <50. RESULTS: We identified 3M 1860 FFRs (33.1%), Xiantao Zhong Yi ZYB-11 FFRs (24.6%) and Makrite 9500 FFRs (20.5%), mainly. Eighty-seven FFRs (33.1%) had an optimal overall-FF, 27 (10.3%) between 50-99, and 149 (56.6%) less than 50. Of the 87 FFRs with optimal overall-FF, 73 (83.9%) were 3M 1860 FFRs. Of the 27 FFRs with overall-FF between 50-99, 7 (25.9%) were Makrite 9500, while of the 149 with overall-FF less than 50, 58 (38.9%), and 47 (31.5%) were Xiantao Zhong Yi ZYB-11 and Makrite 9500, respectively. CONCLUSION: Xiantao Zhong Yi and Makrite FFRs do not adapt adequately to the face of Peruvian HCWs, most having fit factors less than 50.