Background: Long COVID is a syndrome characterized by the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 infection symptoms. Among HCWs, prolonged COVID symptoms could lead to the inability to perform work tasks. The aim of this study is to investigate 35-day long-COVID (35-LC) characteristics and risk factors in a one-year period. Methods: We carried out a retrospective cohort study during the COVID-19 pandemic at University Hospital of Bari. A total of 5750 HCWs were tested for close contact with a confirmed case, in the absence of personal protective equipment, or for symptom development. Results: Each positive HCW was investigated for cardiovascular risk factors or respiratory diseases. An amount of 352 HCWs (6.1%) were infected by SARS-CoV-2, and 168 cases evolved to long COVID. The 35-LC group showed mean BMI values higher than the non-35-LC group (25.9 kg/m² vs. 24.8 kg/m², respectively), and this difference was significant (p-value: 0.020). Moreover, HCWs who suffered from pulmonary disease (OR = 3.7, CL 95%: 1.35–10.53; p-value = 0.007) or overweight (OR = 1.6 CL 95%: 1.05–2.56; p-value = 0.029) had an increased risk of developing 35-LC. Conclusions: Long COVID is an emerging problem for hospital managers as it may reduce the number of HCWs deployed in the fight against COVID-19. High BMI and previous pulmonary disease could be risk factors for 35-LC development in exposed HCWs.

Arsenic and chromium are widespread environmental contaminants that affect global health due to their toxicity and carcinogenicity. To date, few studies have investigated exposure to arsenic and chromium in a population residing in a high-risk environmental area. The aim of this study is to evaluate the exposure to arsenic and chromium in the general population with no occupational exposure to these metals, resident in the industrial area of Taranto, Southern Italy, through biological monitoring techniques. We measured the levels of chromium, inorganic arsenic, and methylated metabolites, in the urine samples of 279 subjects residing in Taranto and neighboring areas. Qualified health staff administered a standardized structured questionnaire investigating lifestyle habits and controlling for confounding factors. The biological monitoring data showed high urinary concentrations of both the heavy metals investigated, particularly Cr. On this basis, it will be necessary to carry out an organized environmental monitoring program, taking into consideration all exposure routes so as to correlate the environmental concentrations of these metals with the biomonitoring results.

(1) Background: Particulate matter increases the risk of respiratory, allergic and oncological diseases in both exposed workers and the general population due to its toxic compounds (e.g., PAHs, gases, heavy metals, microorganisms). The aim of this review is to show the results obtained by our department regarding air pollution’s contributions to health damage in both occupationally and non-occupationally exposed people. (2) Methods: This review was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, searching articles on PubMed, using eligibility criteria, extracting data independently from reports to reduce bias and considering the accuracy of the statistical analyses. (3) Results: Of fifteen papers, only three respected the abovementioned criteria. A total of 453 cases (174 occupationally exposed and 279 non-occupationally exposed individuals) were included in the review. Qualitative analysis showed that among workers, occupational exposure to air pollution increased the risk of allergic and pulmonary diseases, whereas environmental exposure to PM increased heavy metal intake, the last of which was characterized by well-known carcinogenic effects. 4) Conclusion: The use of personal protective equipment, a meticulous health surveillance program and specific environmental protection policies are needed to protect public health from damages due to air pollution.

SARS-CoV-2-related SARIs (severe acute respiratory infections) have a major impact on public health; moreover, healthcare workers (HCWs) are exposed to a high biological risk. The aim of this study was to show the prevention procedures in place in the University Hospital of Bari (Apulia Region, Southern Italy) to reduce this risk to HCWs, consisting of the enhancement of preventive measures and the activation of a report system to collect HCWs' contacts. To date, 23 confirmed cases of infections (0.4% of all HCWs) have been reported in a 30-day observation period. These results show that correct management of HCWs' contacts is essential to avoid nosocomial clusters.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are highly exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection given their specific tasks. The IgG-IgM serological assay has demonstrated good accuracy in early detection in symptomatic patients, but its role in the diagnosis of asymptomatic patients is uncertain. The aim of our study was to assess IgM and IgG prevalence in sera in a large cohort of HCWs previously subjected to Nasopharyngeal swab test (NST) after accurate risk assessment due to positive COVID-19 patient exposure during an observation period of 90 days. 2407 asymptomatic HCWs that had close contact with COVID-19 patients in the period between April 8th and June 7th were screened with NST based on the RT-PCR method. In parallel, they underwent large-scale chemiluminescence immunoassays involving IgM-IgG serological screening to determine actual viral spread in the same cohort. During the 90-day observation period, 18 workers (0.75%) resulted positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection at the NST, whereas the positivity rates for IgM and IgG were 11.51% and 2.37%, respectively (277 workers). Despite high specificity, serological tests were inadequate for detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with previous positive NST results (IgM and IgG sensitivities of 27.78% and 50.00%, respectively). These findings indicate a widespread low viral load of SARS-CoV-2 among hospital workers. However, serological screening showed very low sensitivity with respect to NST in identifying infected workers, and negative IgG and IgM results should not exclude the diagnosis of COVID-19. IgG-IgM chemiluminescence immunoassays could increase the diagnosis of COVID-19 only in association with NST, and this association is considered helpful for decision-making regarding returning to work.

Introduzione: La miopia patologica si complica frequentemente con degenerazione retinica, distacco posteriore di vitreo e glaucoma. A tutt’oggi è incerto l’effetto che l’esposizione professionale a radiazioni luminose, come quelle emesse dai microscopi ottici a fluorescenza, abbia sui sintomi astenopici e sulla evoluzione della degenerazione retinica. Descrizione del caso: Una patologa clinica, di anni 56, affetta da retinopatia miopica ed altre comorbidità oftalmologiche, inoltrò richiesta, presso la nostra U.O.C., di visita medica straordinaria, lamentando difficoltà nella visione distinta e importante bruciore oculare, dopo esposizione prolungata alla fluorescenza emessa dal microscopio ottico. Si dispose pertanto una consulenza specialistica oftalmologica, che mise in evidenza la presenza di una marcata atrofia corioretinica nella regione peripapillare. Un sopralluogo sul posto di lavoro ha evidenziato che il sistema di alimentazione del microscopio emetteva luci di alta intensità (9600 lux). Considerata la severità della corioretinosi, la frequenza della sintomatologia astenopica e la costante esposizione professionale sia alla luce fluorescente di bassa intensità che alla luce di alta intensità, è stato formulato un giudizio di idoneità parziale, con la limitazione all’utilizzo di microscopi a fluorescenza. Dopo quasi 6 mesi dalla formulazione di tale giudizio, la lavoratrice riferiva un netto miglioramento della sintomatologia astenopica, a fronte di un danno retinico sostanzialmente invariato. Conclusioni: La patologia da cui è affetta la lavoratrice ha reso necessario limitare l’utilizzo del microscopio a fluorescenza per evitare l’aggravamento dell’astenopia e l’eventuale repentina evoluzione del danno retinico.