THE PREVALENCE OF LATEX SENSITIVITY AMONG ANESTHESIOLOGY STAFF

Reports dealing with allergic reactions to latex among health care pro fessionals are increasing steadily. This study is the first epidemiolo gical investigation of latex allergy among anesthesia staff. We tested 101 persons of the staff of the Institute of Anesthesiology, Kantonss pital, Lucerne, Switzerland, using a standardized questionnaire, prick test (latex extract), scratch test (latex glove), and immunoglobin E (IgE) analysis. Sixteen of 101 persons (15.8%) had a positive skin tes t. Two of them had a positive radioallergosorbent test (RAST) Class II , and one person was Class I. Risk factors were a history of atopy (P < 0.001) and positive skin tests on atopy screening (P = 0.016). IgE l evels were increased in the latex-sensitive group. Three of the 11 sen sitized persons (total sensitized persons 16) who performed spirometry had significantly reduced expiratory peak flow values during working hours. It is concluded that anesthesiology staff is at high risk of al lergic sensitization to latex. The most important risk indicator was a n atopy. Skin tests are more sensitive than blood tests (i.e., specifi c antibodies, IgE).