[Incidence of hand eczema after surgical washing and use of surgical gloves].
Contact dermatitis caused by surgical gloves is well known. Contact urticaria and anaphylactoid reactions among hospital personnel and patients following contact with latex gloves and glove dusting powder have previously been reported. A suspected increased frequency of hand eczema among personnel using detergents and surgical gloves in operating units initiated the present study. A questionnaire survey was performed in order to examine the frequency and degree of hand eczema among 332 surgeons and nurses working at the surgical units of Odense University Hospital during the period 1.6.-1.9.1989. A total of 242 persons (72%) answered the questionnaire. One hundred and fourteen persons (47%) claimed to develop skin discomfort or hand eczema following the washing procedure or use of surgical gloves. Among the personnel with skin problems 60% had spontaneously changed to another detergent/glove-product with subsequent clearing of the symptoms in 75% of the cases. Dermatological examination and patch tests were performed with European Standard series, gloves, rubber chemicals and selected soap components in 53 persons. Hand eczema was found in 16 persons (7%). Positive patch test reactions to latex gloves were found in four persons and only one person reacted to the rubber accelerators known to be present in the gloves according to the manufacturers' information. Among 26 persons with skin-discomfort and immediate symptoms, ten were prick tested with the standard battery of inhalant allergens, corn starch surgical glove powder, and extract of surgical gloves. Three persons reacted to glove extract, none reacted to glove powder.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ortopaedkirurgisk afdeling O, Odense Sygehus.
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Barfred
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Rasmussen
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KE
Andersen
D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Forekomst af håndeksem efter kirurgisk vask og brug af operationshandsker.