Konrad Sliwkiewicz

Publications of Konrad Sliwkiewicz

• Occupational allergy to birds within the population of Polish bird keepers employed in zoo gardens.

  Authors: Sylwia Swiderska-Kiełbik, Anna Krakowiak, Marta Wiszniewska, Ewa Nowakowska-Świrta, Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa, Konrad Sliwkiewicz, Cezary Pałczyński

  International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health. 09/2011; 24(3):292-303.

  To evaluate the risk factors for the development of occupational allergy to birds among Polish zoo garden keepers. A total of 200 bird zookeepers employed in the Polish zoo gardens in KLódź, Warsaw,To evaluate the risk factors for the development of occupational allergy to birds among Polish zoo garden keepers. A total of 200 bird zookeepers employed in the Polish zoo gardens in KLódź, Warsaw, Gdańsk, Chorzów and Płock and exposed occupationally to bird allergens were examined using a questionnaire, skin prick tests (SPTs) to common allergens and bird allergens, spirometry and cytograms of nasal swab. The level of total IgE in serum and serum-specific IgE to parrot, canary, pigeon feathers and serum were also evaluated. Eight percent of bird zookeepers were sensitized to at least one of the bird allergens. The most frequent allergens yielding positive SPT results were D. farinae - 32 cases (16%), D. pteronyssinus - 30 cases (15%) and grass pollens (16.5%). In the studied group, allergen-specific IgE against bird allergens occurred with the following frequency: 87 (43.5%) against canary feathers and/or serum, 80 (40%) against parrot feathers and/or serum and 82 (41%) against pigeon feathers and/or serum. Occupational allergy was diagnosed in 39 (26.5%) cases, occupational rhinitis was present in 22 (15%) cases, occupational asthma in 20 (13.6%) subjects, occupational conjunctivitis in 18 (12.2%) cases, whereas occupational skin diseases in 11 (7.5%) cases. More eosinophils were found in nose swab cytograms among bird zookeepers with occupational airway allergy. The findings indicate that occupational allergy to birds is an important health problem among zoo bird keepers in Poland.

• Epidemiology of acute poisonings during 2003-2007 in Toxicology Unit, Department of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland.

  Authors: Anna Krakowiak, Małgorzata Kotwica, Konrad Sliwkiewicz, Anna Piekarska-Wijatkowska

  International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health. 06/2011; 24(2):199-207.

  The epidemiology of acute poisonings, observed in Toxicology Unit in Łódź, is the main objective of the study. The authors present frequency of respective kinds of poisoning cases and associatedThe epidemiology of acute poisonings, observed in Toxicology Unit in Łódź, is the main objective of the study. The authors present frequency of respective kinds of poisoning cases and associated mortality. They discuss also the structure of poisonings with regard to type and causative agents over a period between 2003 and 2007. The data used for the analysis were obtained from National Poison Information Center in Łódź. They were divided into two groups. The first one comprised information about patients treated at the Toxicology Unit (TU), whereas the other one included cases treated in other hospitals and only consulted by TU staff. Analysis of the data shows that overdosage of medications was the most frequent cause of hospitalization during 2006-2007. It constituted also the leading cause of deaths due to poisoning during 2003-2005. However, it was superseded during the subsequent period of 2006-2007 by intoxication with alcohols which was associated with the highest number of deaths in the latter period. Situation changed dynamically also with regard to the intention of poisoning. Suicidal poisonings constituted the largest group in 2003, whereas poisonings caused by abuse, including dependence-related abuse, were the most frequent in subsequent years. Patients between 15 and 30 years old formed the largest group among the total number of poisonings. The results of our study on epidemiology of acute poisoning in Łódź between 2003-2007 show that poisoning is a frequent cause of admission to hospital and constitutes a major health problem in Łódź district because of large number of hospital admissions, associated mortality and the high proportion of patients at young age.

• Poisonings with street drugs:a review of 1993-2008 data from the toxicology unit in Poland.

  Authors: Anna Krakowiak, Małgorzata Kotwica, Konrad Sliwkiewicz

  International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health. 01/2010; 23(4):357-65.

  Drugs of abuse have been known in many cultures and geographical zones, and also in Poland the extent of substance abuse has been increasing. This report refers to patients treated for poisoningsDrugs of abuse have been known in many cultures and geographical zones, and also in Poland the extent of substance abuse has been increasing. This report refers to patients treated for poisonings with street drugs at the Toxicology Unit (TU), Łódź, Poland during the period 1993-2008. The data to be analyzed was obtained from medical files of all patients treated for street drugs or hallucinogens abuse. The kind of the drugs used has changed significantly; between 1993 and 1998 the majority of patients were opiate users, in 1999-2002 the dominant drug was amphetamine and in 2003-2008 there was recurrent increase in the number of opiate poisonings. Male patients were represented in the studied group more often than female ones. The percentages of patients treated after suicidal attempts ranged from 9.3% in 1993-1994 to 15.9% in 2007-2008. During the analyzed period 1993-2008, cases of overdose were less frequent, while accidental intoxications became more common. Drug abuse is a serious problem in Poland, it has expanded in recent years and it is likely to expand further in the years to come. The treatment of drug-addicted people needs to be improved and a suitable prevention program should be developed.

• Work-related respiratory symptoms in bird zoo keepers--questionnaire data.

  Authors: Sylwia Swiderska-Kiełbik, Anna Krakowiak, Marta Wiszniewska, Wojciech Dudek, Monika Kowalczyk, Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa, Konrad Sliwkiewicz, Cezary Pałczyński

  International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health. 01/2009; 22(4):393-9.

  To investigate the risk factors for the development of airway diseases from occupational exposure to birds' allergens among Polish zoo garden keepers caring for birds. Two hundred workers respondedTo investigate the risk factors for the development of airway diseases from occupational exposure to birds' allergens among Polish zoo garden keepers caring for birds. Two hundred workers responded to the questionnaire including the history of work-related symptoms, job characteristics, description of occupational exposure, information on smoking habit, contact with birds and animals at home and family history of allergic diseases. General work-related symptoms were reported by 58 subjects (29%), whereas work-related respiratory symptoms were found in 40 workers (20%). The multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed the significant role of positive family history of atopy and occupational contact with parrots either in the development of work-related symptoms or work-related respiratory allergic symptoms. The findings may confirm that work-related respiratory symptoms are an important health problem among zoo bird keepers in Poland.