ACLS
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Verna, N.
Right arrow Articles by Di Gioacchino, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Verna, N.
Right arrow Articles by Di Gioacchino, M.
Annals of Clinical & Laboratory Science 33:184-191 (2003)
© 2003 Association of Clinical Scientists

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Latex-Related Diseases Among Healthcare Workers in an Italian General Hospital

Nicola Verna1, Luca Di Giampaolo1, Annabella Renzetti1, Loukia Balatsinou1, Fabio Di Stefano1, Giorgia Di Gioacchino1, Paola Di Rocco2, Cosima Schiavone1, Paolo Boscolo1 and Mario Di Gioacchino1
1 Occupational Medicine, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology Division, Department of Medicine and Science of Ageing, University " G. d’Annunzio," Chieti Scalo, Italy
2 Allergy Unit, Pescara Hospital, Pescara, Italy

Address correspondence to Professor Mario Di Gioacchino, "G. D’Annunzio" University, Viale Gran Sasso 92, 66100 Chieti, Italy; tel 39 087 135 8578; fax 39 087 155 1615; e-mail m.digioacchino{at}unich.it.

Latex allergy has become an occupational hazard among healthcare workers. Atopy and degree of exposure have been recognized as predisposing factors for latex sensitization. We investigated the prevalence of latex allergy and the potential risk factors for latex sensitization, by distributing a questionnaire to 284 employees of a general hospital in central Italy. We collected information about occupational history, including specific tasks performed; time of first exposure to latex gloves; number of pairs of gloves; and duration of daily exposure. We also investigated the interval between first exposure and onset of symptoms, as well as the exact circumstances of their appearance. We evaluated pre-existing rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma, atopic and contact dermatitis, and allergies to drugs and foods using prick and patch tests. Latex allergy was established by means of skin-prick test, specific IgE, patch-test, and latex-glove-wearing test. This survey documented a high prevalence of symptoms related to the use of latex (47%) among the hospital staff; demonstrable sensitization to latex was considerably lower (12%), though strongly associated to atopy and duration of occupational exposure. Despite non-specificity, validated questionnaires constitute the most useful means to implement health surveillance and prevention of latex-related diseases among healthcare workers.

Keywords: latex allergy, latex gloves, natural rubber latex, occupational health, atopy




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Occup. Environ. Med.Home page
L H Barrero, J N Katz, M J Perry, R Krishnan, J H Ware, and J T Dennerlein
Work pattern causes bias in self-reported activity duration: a randomised study of mechanisms and implications for exposure assessment and epidemiology
Occup. Environ. Med., January 1, 2009; 66(1): 38 - 44.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2003 by the Association of Clinical Scientists.