Latex allergy in Polish nurses

Background Reports on the studies conducted in Western Europe and North Ame rica revealed that from 2.8 to 16.9% of the health care personnel were alle rgic to latex. No respective data are available from Eastern European count ries. Methods A postal questionnaire inquiring about the history of latex-induced allergic reactions was distributed among 3,750 nurses. The participation r are was 77.3%. To verify, the results of the survey, in randomly selected n urses, skin prick tests with latex and tropical fruit allergens, evaluation of total IgE, and specific anti-latex IgE, skin and nasal provocation with latex were performed. Results Allergic symptoms in the workplace were reported by 1,016 subjects (35%); out of this group 847 (29.2%) persons associated the symptoms with l atex exposure. The group of cases with self-reported latex allergy revealed a significantly increased frequency of history of atopy, allergy to beta-l actam antibiotics and tropical fruits. Allergy to latex was confirmed in 33 .3% of randomly selected nurses with a positive history of occupational all ergy. It was found that 18.6% of nurses working at hospital wards were alle rgic to latex. The 95%CI was estimated to be 13.5-23.6%. Conclusions Latex allergy is an important health problem among nurses in Po land Atopy, allergy to beta-lactam antibiotics and tropical fruits, are the risk factors for latex allergy Am. J. Ind. Med. 35:413-419, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.