Industrial advances concerning latex allergy in surgery

Latex allergy has been well described in the literature, but it remains a c onstant worry for high-risk groups. We wish to show that the manufacturing industry has made real progress in response to this iatrogenic pathology. The high-risk groups are defined, in addition to the allergies with which t hey are associated: foodstuffs, ethylene oxide, airborne allergens. The cri teria necessary to have available high-quality sterile surgical gloves are stated: they must be either hypo-allergenic or non-allergenic dependent upo n the circumstances of use, they must garantee protection against the trans mission of infection and allow the medical practitioner complete freedom of movement. In the same way urinary catheters for intermittent probing, peni le sheaths and condoms are mentioned. Powder must definitely be eliminated from any medical glove, because it can both be a vector for latex particles and can be the cause of granulomas in the abdominal cavity. The European Community standards (CE) and the recomm endations of the Americain Associations of Allergology are explained. Steri lization by gamma irradiation is one sign of real progress, outperforming e thylene oxide which is too allergenic. The composition of the groves must e nsure an effective barrier against both allergens and infections. Pre-lubri cated latex-free urinary catheters, penile sheaths and latex-free condoms r epresent substantial improvements for the population at risk. Since 1995 considerable progress has been made by the manufacturing industr y in response to the needs of both allergologists and surgeons.