LATEX ALLERGY IN-HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES

To investigate the incidence of latex IgE-mediated hypersensitivity, 2 24 hospital employees were interviewed and prick skin tests were perfo rmed to six common aeroallergen extracts, one non-latex ''synthetic'' glove extract, and four different latex glove extracts. Of the 224 sub jects, there were 136 nurses, 41 laboratory technicians, 14 dental sta ff, 11 physicians, 6 respiratory therapists, and 17 housekeeping and c lerical workers. All 224 subjects tested negative for the nonlatex glo ve (Tactylon(TM)) extract but 38 (17%) tested positive for latex extra cts. The incidence ranged from 0% in housekeeping staff to 38% in dent al staff. Eighty-four percent of the latex skin test-positive employee s complained of itching and 68% of rash upon exposure to latex, wherea s the latex skin test-negative employees reported these symptoms in 29 % and 17%, respectively. Uriticaria was a symptom in 55% of the latex skin test-positive and 0.5% of the skin test negative-subjects. Anaphy laxis occurred in 10.5% of the skin test-positive and in none of the s kin test-negative employees. Symptoms of sneezing (34% vs 7%), nasal c ongestion (39% vs 7%), and lacrimation and ocular itching (45% vs 6%) were also significantly different between the latex skin test-positive and latex skin test-negative subjects. We conclude that the incidence of latex IgE-mediated allergy in hospital employees is 17%. The sympt oms of anaphylaxis and hives when using latex gloves are sensitive pre dictors of IgE-mediated latex allergy.