Abstract
Four nurses working in endoscopy units complained of respiratory symptoms on exposure to alkaline glutaraldehyde used as a disinfectant for fibre-optic endoscopes. A provocation test was positive in two of these patients. This is the first report to use provocation testing to confirm a relation between exposure to alkaline glutaraldehyde and respiratory disease.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Airway Resistance
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Aldehydes / adverse effects*
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Asthma / chemically induced*
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Asthma / physiopathology
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Disinfectants / adverse effects
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Endoscopes
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Endoscopy / adverse effects*
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Female
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Forced Expiratory Volume
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Glutaral / adverse effects*
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Humans
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Rhinitis / chemically induced*
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Rhinitis / physiopathology
Substances
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Aldehydes
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Disinfectants
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Glutaral