title: Latex allergy: a follow up study of 1040 healthcare workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Natural rubber latex allergy can cause skin and respiratory symptoms The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and incidence of latex related symptoms and sensitisation among a large group of healthcare workers in Trieste hospitals, followed for three years before and after the introduction of powder-free gloves with low latex release.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the years 1997-99 the authors evaluated 1040 healthcare workers exposed to latex allergen for latex related symptoms and sensitisation by means of a questionnaire, a medical examination, skin prick tests, and IgE specific antibody assay. The second evaluation was carried out in the years 2000-02, subsequent to the changeover to a powder-free environment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Glove related symptoms were seen in 21.8% of the nurses (227), mostly consisting of mild dermatitis: 38 (3.6%) complaining of contact urticaria and 24 (2.3%) of asthma and/or rhinitis. These symptoms were significantly related to skin prick tests positive to latex (OR = 9.70; 95% CI 5.5 to 17) and to personal atopy (OR = 2.29; 95% CI 1.6 to 3.2). Follow up was completed in 960 subjects (92.3%): 19 new subjects (2.4%) complained of itching erythema when using gloves, but none was prick positive to latex. Symptoms significantly improved and in most cases disappeared (p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simple measures such as the avoidance of unnecessary glove use, the use of non-powdered latex gloves by all workers, and use of non-latex gloves by sensitised subjects can stop the progression of latex symptoms and can avoid new cases of sensitisation.
authors.affiliation: UCO Medicina del Lavoro, Dipartimento di Scienze di Medicina Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Trieste, Italy. Larese@univ.trieste.it
authors.forename: F Larese
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Filon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Radman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D017575:Gloves, Protective / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011208:Powders; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D011208:Powders