Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by sterile non‐latex protective gloves: clinical investigation and chemical analyses

Abstract

Contact allergy to DPG in gloves has been disputed, but, in this study, we were able to confirm the presence of DPG and cetylpyridinium chloride in the causative gloves by using a modified method for the analysis. The presence of these chemicals in gloves caused an increase in occupational contact dermatitis in surgical operating theatre personnel.

Hand eczema and occupational contact allergies in healthcare workers with a focus on rubber additives

“…This indicates that glove‐related contact allergies often cause substantial work problems prompting the HCWs to seek medical care. Patch testing with extracts of the suspected glove and with the glove “as is” could have further increased the possibility of detecting relevant contact allergy to substances in gloves, but this was not possible to undertake in the setting of the present study.…”

“…In the present study, DPG allergy was the most common rubber contact allergy, indicating increased exposure to DPG‐containing surgical gloves during the past decade. We have previously reported on 12 HCWs with occupational contact allergy to DPG in surgical gloves . Two of these HCWs participated in the present study, due to continued eczema.…”

“…Two of these HCWs participated in the present study, due to continued eczema. Another 17 HCWs with contact allergy to DPG in their surgical gloves were investigated at our department in the time between the first report and the present report. This indicates that glove‐related contact allergies often cause substantial work problems prompting the HCWs to seek medical care.…”

“…For hand disinfectants, information was supplied by the manufacturers. All rubber gloves were analysed for rubber additives with high‐performance liquid chromatography, as previously described . Inclusion of rubber additives was based on previous and present analyses at the Department of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology (DOED), Malmö, as well as on literature data .…”

Recent Trends in Occupational Contact Dermatitis

“…The authors concluded that despite a very low number of contact allergies to sterile rubber gloves previously reported, during recent years a substantial increase could have been observed. This tendency is likely to be explained by the increased number of contact allergies to DPG [51].…”