Prevalence of Dermatitis and Superficial Fungal Infection of the Hands in Seafood Workers: An Investigation from Food Markets in Ningbo, China

• Main Authors: Le F, Liu B, Si Z, Li S, Qiao J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-05-01
• Series: Risk Management and Healthcare Policy
• Subjects: seafood; hand dermatitis; fungal colonization; candida
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/prevalence-of-dermatitis-and-superficial-fungal-infection-of-the-hands-peer-reviewed-article-RMHP

Feng Le,1,2 Bin Liu,2 Zixiang Si,3 Sheng Li,1 Jianjun Qiao1 1Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Dermatology, Beilun Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Ningbo, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Dermatology, Beilun Branch of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Ningbo, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jianjun QiaoDepartment of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79, Qingchun Road, Hangzhou 310003, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [e-mail]: Seafood workers have high risks of hand skin diseases. The purpose of this survey is to study the prevalence of occupational hand skin diseases in this population.Methods: From March 2018 to October 2018, seafood workers in two food markets in Ningbo, China were investigated. Fungal microscopy and cultures from lesions on the hands and nails were performed. A community-based investigation of hand skin diseases was performed as a control group.Results: One handred and eleven of  135 (82.2%) seafood workers in two food markets in Ningbo were taken into the investigation. The prevalence of hand dermatitis was 50.5% (56/111) in seafood workers, which is significantly higher than that of the control group (7.43%, p< 0.001). It was found that the incidence of superficial fungal infection of the hands in seafood workers was much higher than that in community residents (26.1% vs 2.7%, p< 0.001). Without wearing waterproof gloves, longer working time per day, longer history of seafood work increased the risk of hand dermatitis, instead of candidial infection of the hands and nails.Conclusion: Hand skin diseases are highly prevalent in seafood workers in Ningbo, a city in eastern China. This public health problem should be addressed in this population.Keywords: seafood, hand dermatitis, fungal colonization, Candida