Identification of skin sensitivity and nasal micobiota in workers of the national archive of Cuba

Authors

Keywords:

occupational risk, occupational exposure, allergic sensitization, nasal mycobiota, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium.

Abstract

Antecedents. The exhibition to atmospheres with high loads fungi,  it favors the allergic sensitization to environmental mushrooms propitiating the appearance of allergic illnesses in exposed filing work workers. Objective. To determine the relationship of occupational exposure to allergenic mushrooms with skin sensitization and nasal fungal colonization. Methods. Observational and cross-sectional study in 72 archivist workers, who underwent a medical history, skin prick tests (SPT) with extracts of fungal allergens and identification of the nasal mycobiota. Age, sex, occupational exposure time, PCP results, wheal diameter, and presence of nasal fungal colonies were analyzed. Chi square X2 was used to compare sensitization frequencies and Student's t-test for wheal size, with statistical significance if p <0.05. Results. The 72 ARNAC workers had an average working time in the institution of 12.3 years. 54.17% reported the incidence of one or more diseases in the last year: Asthma 22 (30,6%), Chronic rhinitis 20 (27.8%) and Allergic conjunctivitis 11 (15,3%) mainly. Skin-reaction to fungal extracts was positive in 40.27% of the workers, mainly Aspergillus fumigatus, Alternaria alternata and Penicillium notatum. The nasal mycobiota was identified in 73.61% of workers; the genera Aspergillus spp (64%), Cladosporium sp (14.70%) and Penicillium sp (8%) predominate. Conclusions. Archival occupational exposure is decisive in the nasal colonization and the sensitization by fungal species. These constitute risk factors of for the significant incidence of allergic illnesses.

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Author Biographies

Omar Herrera Barrios, CIMEQ

MsC en Enfermedades Infecciosas. Especialista  en Medicina Interna y Alergología.  Presidente de la SCAA_LH.  Miembro del Grupo Nacional de Alergia. CIMEQ- Clinica 43.

Ileana Paneque Rodríguez, CIMEQ

Licenciada en Microbiología

Sofía Flavia Borrego Alonso, Archivo Nacional de Cuba

Doctora en Ciencias.

Laboratorio de Conservación

Dailys Rodríguez Marimón, Hospital "Calixto García"

Doctora en Medicina

Mirlenys Álvarez Lara, Hospital "Calixto García"

Doctora en Medicina

Nardelis Ruiz Torres, CIMEQ

Licenciada en Enfermería

María de los Ángeles Molina González, CIMEQ

Licenciada en Enfermería

Published

2021-09-10

How to Cite

1.
Herrera Barrios O, Paneque Rodríguez I, Borrego Alonso SF, Rodríguez Marimón D, Álvarez Lara M, Ruiz Torres N, et al. Identification of skin sensitivity and nasal micobiota in workers of the national archive of Cuba. rev cuban salud trabajo [Internet]. 2021 Sep. 10 [cited 2025 Jul. 12];22:03-1. Available from: https://revsaludtrabajo.sld.cu/index.php/revsyt/article/view/219

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Section

Original articles