CONTACT ALLERGIES IN HEALTH-CARE WORKERS - RESULTS FROM THE IVDK

Healthcare workers often suffer from occupational skin disease frequen tly caused by allergic sensitization. Therefore the patch-test results and important patient history items of 31,849 patients recorded betwe en 1992 and 1995 in the 24 allergy departments participating in the In formation Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK) mere evaluated. Significantly increased sensitization rates common to the healthcare sector as a whole mere found for the vaccine preservative thiomersal ( 12.6% vs. 4.9%), the surface and instrument disinfectants glutardialde hyde (9.9% vs. 2.6%), formaldehyde (3.6% vs. 2.1%) and glyoxal (4.2% v s. 1.4%), and for the compounds of the thiuram mix (6.7% vs. 2.6%) pre sent in protective gloves. Formaldehyde seems to lose its importance, but glyoxal must be added to the list of occupational allergens in the healthcare sector. In addition, occupation-specific sensitization was observed, with fragrances in massage therapists (16.1% vs. 10.6%) and nurses (13.8% vs. 11.4%), as well as with methacrylates in dental tec hnicians. The often assumed importance of drugs as type-IV allergens w as not confirmed, at least in terms of quantity. The identification of subgroups of increased risk and of occupation-specific allergens coul d be the basis of targeted preventive action in the healthcare sector.