title: Occupational contact allergy in nurses: results from the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology 2003-2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Healthcare workers are occupationally exposed to various allergens in protective gloves, surface or instrument disinfectants, drugs, and skin care products. An increased prevalence of sensitization to thiurams, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde and glyoxal in nurses with occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) has been known since the 1990s.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To update the range of occupational allergens in healthcare professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analysed patch test data from the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK), 2003-2012. Patch test results from 2248 nurses with OCD were compared with those of 2138 nurses without OCD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly increased sensitization rates were found for thiuram mix (6.7%), potassium dichromate (5.7%), methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (4.4%), colophonium (3.4%), 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (1.7%), and zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (1.7%). Patch testing with products from the patients' workplaces gave additional clues to further allergens, for example tetrazepam.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The known range of contact sensitization in nurses with OCD has been confirmed. Formaldehyde allergy seems to be less important today. Drugs such as tetrazepam are occupational sensitizers in nurses. The increase in chromium sensitization remains unexplained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Ludwig Maximilian University, Frauenlobstr. 9-11, 80337, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Molin
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schnuch
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D017575:Gloves, Protective / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D010328:Patch Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017592:Skin Care / Q000009:adverse effects; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004202:Disinfectants
keywords: contact allergy; formaldehyde; healthcare workers; nurses; occupational; occupational skin disease; thiuram mix