The prevalence of specific IgE antibodies to natural rubber latex in healthcare workers in Israel

Background: According to studies from different countries, the prevalence o f natural rubber latex sensitization in healthcare workers ranges from 2.9 to 17%. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of NRL-specific IgE antibodies in hea lthcare workers in Israel. Methods: Three hundred healthcare workers, mostly from a major pediatric te rtiary care facility, and 15 non-healthcare workers completed a questionnai re on signs and symptoms of NRL allergy and other respiratory and food alle rgies. NRL-specific IgE antibodies were assayed with the DPC AlaSTAT-ELISA method. Results: Seventy of the 300 workers (23.3%) reported symptoms of NRL allerg y: hand eczema and pruritus in 63, upper respiratory tract and ocular sympt oms in 10 shortness of breath in 2, and generalized rash in 6. None had ana phylaxis due to latex exposure. There was a significant correlation of symp toms of NRL allergy with atopy ana job category (nurses, laboratory technic ians, nurse assistants and dental medicine workers), but not with gender, a ge, or years of employment. The in vitro tests for specific IgE antibodies against NRL were positive (greater than or equal to 0.70 IU/ml) in five wor kers (1.66%). Conclusions: This is the first study of the prevalence of NRL-specific IgE antibodies in healthcare workers in Israel. Our 1.66% sensitization rate is much lower than that reported for healthcare workers in other countries. T his difference may be due to our inclusion of a study population with a rel atively low exposure to latex gloves (pediatricians compared to surgeons). Further studies are heeded in this and other high risk populations in Israe l.