Review of Literature on Infectious Diseases Identifies High-Risk Industries, Occupations
A NIOSH review of infectious disease investigations in workplaces across the U.S. found that cases of infectious diseases appear to be concentrated in specific industries such as healthcare and in certain occupations, including laboratory, animal, and public service workers. Agency researchers reviewed scientific literature describing 66 U.S. workplaces during 2006–2015 to improve understanding of the range of cases, risk factors for workers, and ways to prevent infectious disease transmission on the job. Work-related cases of infectious disease were associated with a variety of pathogens, but NIOSH found that bacteria were responsible for most reported cases. Other pathogens included viruses, fungi, and parasites or protozoa. Researchers also identified reports of some emerging or reemerging pathogens—Ebola virus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, norovirus, Bacillus anthracis, and Yersinia pestis—that caused several clusters of workplace disease.
NIOSH’s review describes three categories of risk factors for work-related infections: disease factors, workplace factors, and worker factors. According to the agency, many factors can combine to increase the risk for infection among workers. For example, public service workers may acquire respiratory virus infections because their work involves interaction with the general population, including persons who are potentially ill. Workplace factors such as work practices, processes, and engineering and administrative issues can pose biologic hazards to workers. Individual characteristics of workers, including impaired immunity and inadequate prophylaxis, are additional factors that may increase workers’ risk of acquiring and transmitting infectious diseases.
The study authors explain that a hierarchy-of-controls approach can help determine how to implement effective preventive measures in workplaces. Measures that could help prevent disease transmission and protect workers’ health include strengthening biosafety programs in high-risk industries and involving professionals from multiple disciplines, including epidemiologists, physicians, industrial hygienists, and engineers. Improved ventilation systems, vaccination of workers, and appropriate personal protective equipment are other options for protecting workers.
Several high-risk occupations were identified in the published literature reviewed by NIOSH, but the researchers stress that other occupations may also be at risk.
“Although it is clear from the literature review that many groups of workers are at risk for infectious diseases, we may be missing some clusters in workplaces, given that surveillance of work-related infectious diseases is not done systematically,” said Sara Luckhaupt, MD, MPH, co-author of the study. “We also may be missing exposures, industries, and occupations not readily identified as at risk.”
The study was recently published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Related: The cover article of the October 2018 Synergist, “Potential for Prediction,” discussed the use of mathematical models to guide risk management for infectious diseases in the occupational setting. The cover article of the April 2018 issue, “No Boundaries,” examined IH's role in preventing the transmission of highly hazardous communicable diseases.