title: Allergic contact dermatitis to medical equipment in a non-health care worker caring for a disabled spouse.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) to rubber accelerators is a common occurrence, especially in health care workers, but the risks in family caregivers are not as well documented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To document a case of a 66-year-old woman who developed recurrent, extensive flares of ACD from contact with rubber accelerators through caregiving.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patch testing revealed a positive reaction to two common rubber accelerators: carba mix (3+) and thiuram mix (3+). The patient described caring for her disabled husband, which involved handling rubberized medical equipment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physicians should appreciate ACD in non-health care workers caused by rubber accelerators found in medical equipment. Individuals providing care for sick or elderly relatives should be further questioned on exposure to a hospital environment and contact with medical equipment.
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: Ilya
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shoimer
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pratt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012408:Rubber / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D012408:Rubber