SENSITIZATION TO LATEX AND AEROGEN LATEX ALLERGEN CONCENTRATION - RESULTS OF A STUDY IN A HOSPITAL AND IN A PHYSICIANS AND DENTISTS OFFICE

Allergies to Inter products have increased since the mid 80s in the he alth care field due to wide spread use of powdered larex gloves. We ex amined workers in a hospital and physicians' and dentists' offices to determine the sensitization rare against natural rubber latex. We also determined the aerogen latex allergen concentration in those places. Our investigations showed a sensitization rate between 5,8% (5 of 86 e xamined workers) in a hospital and 25% (2 of 8 workers) in a physician 's office. We found sensitized personnel only where latex allergen cou ld he detected in the air. Powdered latex gloves that are the main sou rce for aerogen latex allergen should consequently be banned from the workplace.