title: Latex allergy in hospital employees.
abstract: To investigate the incidence of latex IgE-mediated hypersensitivity, 224 hospital employees were interviewed and prick skin tests were performed to six common aeroallergen extracts, one non-latex "synthetic" glove extract, and four different latex glove extracts. Of the 224 subjects, there were 136 nurses, 41 laboratory technicians, 13 dental staff, 11 physicians, 6 respiratory therapists, and 17 housekeeping and clerical workers. All 224 subjects tested negative for the nonlatex glove (Tactylon) extract but 38 (17%) tested positive for latex extracts. The incidence ranged from 0% in housekeeping staff to 38% in dental staff. Eighty-four percent of the latex skin test-positive employees complained of itching and 68% of rash upon exposure to latex, whereas the latex skin test-negative employees reported these symptoms in 29% and 17%, respectively. Urticaria was a symptom in 55% of the latex skin test-positive and 0.5% of the skin test negative-subjects. Anaphylaxis occurred in 10.5% of the skin test-positive and in none of the skin test-negative employees. Symptoms of sneezing (34% vs 7%), nasal congestion (39% vs 7%), and lacrimation and ocular itching (45% vs 6%) were also significantly different between the latex skin test-positive and latex skin test-negative subjects. We conclude that the incidence of latex IgE-mediated allergy in hospital employees is 17%. The symptoms of anaphylaxis and hives when using latex gloves are sensitive predictors of IgE-mediated latex allergy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yassin
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Lierl
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steinmetz
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015994:Incidence; D007840:Latex / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D007840:Latex