REDUCTION OF LATEX AEROALLERGENS AND LATEX-SPECIFIC IGE ANTIBODIES INSENSITIZED WORKERS AFTER REMOVAL OF POWDERED NATURAL-RUBBER LATEX GLOVES IN A HOSPITAL

Background: Respiratory symptoms of natural rubber lates (NRL) allergy in health care workers (HCWs) have been reported in rooms with a dete ctable allergen load. Preventive measures have been proposed to reduce the risk of NRL sensitization. Objectives: Eliminating powdered NRL g loves from the workplace and giving NRL-free material to sensitized wo rkers has been among proposed preventive measures. To appraise the suc cess of such procedures among HCWs, a prospective study was carried ou t. Methods: Sensitization of HCW's to NRL was determined by skin prick tests and measurements of specific IgE antibodies. NRL allergen conce ntrations in room air were measured before and after substitution of p owdered NRL gloves with powder-free or synthetic gloves in different d epartments of a hospital and determined by a competitive inhibition im munoassay. Results: The prevalence of HCWs with positive skin prick te st responses and NRL-specific IgE-positive HCWs was 8% (n = 7) among t he 90 examined staff members before the intervention started. All 7 re ported glove-related allergic symptoms. Six of 7 sensitized subjects h ad a significant decrease of latex-specific IgE antibody concentration s during follow-up examinations in April and September 1997 (P < .003) . Within 24 hours after substitution took place, NRL aeroallergen leve ls (up to 49.9 ng/m(3)) fell below the detection limit in areas with s ynthetic gloves or powder-free NRL gloves alike. Use of asthma meditat ion and antiallergic drugs could be discontinued by 2 HCWs with NRL-re lated respiratory tract symptoms. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that elimination of powdered NRL gloves is a useful device in reducin g aerogen NRL allergen loads below the detection limit and permitting sensitized or allergic personnel to remain on the job.