Allergic contact dermatitis from glutaraldehyde in health-care workers

Glutaraldehyde is considered the disinfectant of choice for sterilizing med ical and dental equipment. Unfortunately, glutaraldehyde has many toxic sid e-effects, including the ability to induce allergic contact dermatitis. In a 5-year study at the University of Kansas, 468 patients were patch tested to glutaraldehyde. A comparison of results was made between those employed in a healthcare related field and those who were not. Health-care workers ( HCWs) were more than 8X more likely to be allergic to glutaraldehyde than t heir non-health-care working peers (NHCWs). Statistically significant diffe rences between HCWs and NHCWs were seen in their reactivity to glutaraldehy de, thimerosal, benzalkonium chloride and methyl methacrylate. A higher tha n expected co-reactivity between glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde was also n oted among HCWs and NHCWs, which cannot fully be explained by concomitant e xposure. Allergic contact dermatitis from glutaraldehyde often causes persi stent dermatitis, which frequently forces patients to leave their jobs. Alt hough the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has publishe d guidelines for safe handling of glutaraldehyde, allergy appears to contin ue to rise, especially among those employed in health-care professions. Unt il a less sensitizing disinfectant is developed, it is in the best interest of those in health-care professions, and other professions exposed to glut araldehyde, to heighten occupational safety standards and to improve method s of barrier protection.