LATEX ALLERGY IN-HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk f actors of latex-allergy in hospital personnel and the presence of late x-specific IgE in a latex-allergic group in Taiwan. A total of 1,021 h ospital employees were initially screened for latex allergy with a que stionnaire, which included sex, age,job categories, number of years of employment, daily working hours, frequency of latex glove wearing, sy mptoms or immediate reactions to latex gloves and history of previous atopic diseases. Among them, 70 hospital employees (6.8%; 95% confiden ce interval 1.9%-11.8%) had symptoms associated with glove wearing. Th e frequencies in different job categories were 28.3% of surgical nurse s, 9.2% of surgeons, 5.8% of regular floor nurses, 5.2% of technicians , 4.6% of physicians, and 4.5% of laboratory researchers. The symptoms were significantly related to the frequency of latex glove exposure, surgical work, current hand eczema and history of atopic dermatitis. I n contrast, the number of years of employment, daily working hours and previous history of hand eczema were not correlated with the symptoms of latex allergy. Latex-specific IgE was assayed by the dot blot meth od in 36 hospital employees of the latex allergic group (positive rate , 55.6%). We concluded that the prevalence of latex-allergy among hosp ital personnel was 6.9% and certain predisposing factors such as atopi c dermatitis, current hand eczema and surgical work may play a critica l role in triggering and aggravating the symptoms.