title: A medical-center-wide, multidisciplinary approach to the problem of natural rubber latex allergy.
abstract: Latex is a common cause of occupational allergy in health care workers; latex-sensitized patients are at increased risk of allergic reactions in medical environments. Skin test reagents and latex-specific immunoglobulin E immunoassays were established for diagnosis of latex allergy. Inhibition immunoassays were developed for measuring latex aeroallergens and latex allergens in rubber products. A registry of latex-sensitive employees was established. High-allergen gloves were removed from the medical center inventory; latex aeroallergen levels subsequently declined. Despite an increasing number of gloves used annually, expenditures for gloves in 1994 were lower than in previous years. Latex-sensitive individuals can be identified using skin tests or immunoassays. Latex aeroallergen levels in medical environments can be reduced substantially at lower cost by using powder-free rubber gloves with lower allergen content.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Medical Center Latex Allergy Task Force, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn 55905, USA.
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Boone-Orke
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Fransway
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Fremstad
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: McEvoy
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Majerus
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Luker
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Scheppmann
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yunginger
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017575:Gloves, Protective / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D006282:Health Personnel; D006770:Hospitals, Group Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007840:Latex / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D010316:Particle Size; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D007840:Latex