The German experience 10 years after the latex allergy epidemic: need for further preventive measures in healthcare employees with latex allergy.
OBJECTIVE
Powdered latex gloves or latex gloves with high allergen content are forbidden in Germany since 1998. It was the aim of this study to test the hypothesis that nationwide preventive measures enable health care workers with latex allergy to work without health risks about 10 years afterwards.


METHODS
Ninety-one health care workers who had been reported to the accident insurance between 1996 and 2004 for occupational latex allergy were examined in 2007. The survey included a questionnaire, a physical examination, spirometry, methacholine testing, skin prick testing and serum IgE measurements to latex and environmental allergens.


RESULTS
Recent work-related possibly allergic symptoms were reported by 32 subjects (35%), among them 18 subjects (20%) with symptoms of the eyes, nose or airways. Current sensitization to latex was detected in 61 subjects (67%), and 60 subjects (66%) were atopic. Eleven subjects (12%) showed mild airway obstruction, and 27 subjects (30%) were considered hyperresponsive to methacholine. Whereas overall recent symptoms of the eyes, nose or airways were associated with current latex sensitization (OR 4.5; 95% CI 1.3-16.2), this was not the case for objective outcome parameters (spirometry, bronchial hyperresponsiveness).


CONCLUSIONS
Although most subjects had only mild disease, ongoing work-related symptoms of the eyes, nose or airways in a substantial number of subjects with latex allergy suggest the need for further secondary preventive measures in German healthcare.
Merget
Rolf
R
Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University (IPA), Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany. merget@ipa-dguv.de
van Kampen
V
V
Sucker
K
K
Heinze
E
E
Taeger
D
D
Goldscheid
N
N
Haufs
M G
MG
Raulf-Heimsoth
M
M
Kromark
K
K
Nienhaus
A
A
Bruening
T
T
D000328:Adult; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007840:Latex / Q000009:adverse effects; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012882:Skin Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D007840:Latex; D007073:Immunoglobulin E