[Italian and international guidelines on latex allergy: revision and comparison].
BACKGROUND
Latex allergy is an important medical issue, particularly for some occupationally exposed categories (healthcare personnel). The increase in the number of cases reported, occurred as a consequence of the diffusion of latex use, prompted several scientific and institutional organisms, both on a local and international level, to create guidelines for risk management in healthcare environment.


OBJECTIVE
To review and compare, more than ten years after the first official guidelines, the directives on latex allergy currently used in different countries and in the Italian regions.


METHODS
We used the references contained in the relevant literature and in the regulations concerning prevention of latex allergy.


RESULTS
Epidemiologic data, together with the recent decrease of the number of papers on latex allergy, suggest a relevant, but still unsatisfactory reduction of the problem.


CONCLUSIONS
In the light of a recent study performed by National Health Service (NHS) in UK, we point out the need for a critical evaluation of the real application of the existing guidelines, which are often formally present but left unattended in the daily hospital practice.
Sezione di Medicina del Lavoro, Dipartimento di Medicina Sociale del Territorio, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina. gspatari@unime.it
Giovanna
G
Spatari
Concettina
C
Fenga
F
F
Guarneri
D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D007558:Italy; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic