title: Allergic contact dermatitis due to N,N-dimethyl-para-phenylenediamine in bacteriology technicians.
abstract: Three cases of allergic contact dermatitis due to N,N-dimethyl-para-phenylenediamine in a bacteriology laboratory are presented. This chemical, a dye closely related to the common contact allergen para-phenylenediamine, is used in laboratories to screen bacterial culture plates for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The three patients had strongly positive patch test reactions to N,N-dimethyl-para-phenylenediamine, but had negative reactions to para-phenylenediamine. A brief discussion of allergic contact cross-sensitization among compounds with the para-aminophenyl grouping is presented.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology*; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000276:immunology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D010655:Phenylenediamines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D010655:Phenylenediamines