Can pre-employment patch testing help to prevent occupational contact allergy?
175 subjects (157 female, 18 male) were patch tested with a standard series of allergens (Epipharm Allergy Service, GmbH, Linz, Austria), during pre-employment examinations in the pharmaceutical industry, considered an industry at risk for the development of contact sensitization. None of those examined had contact dermatitis prior to testing and none gave a positive history of hand ecczema. Patch testing was positive in 12 (7%) subjects, of whom 7 showed a positive reaction to only 1 contact allergen and 5 reacted to several contact allergens. 5 subjects (2.9%) reacted positively to metal salts (nickel, cobalt, chromium), 5 (2.9%) had a positive skin reaction to mixtures of rubber additives, and the remaining 2 to other allergens.
Milković-Kraus
S
S
Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia.
Macan
J
J
D000328:Adult; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004345:Drug Industry; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010328:Patch Tests; D010560:Personnel Selection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods