Primary prevention of natural rubber latex allergy in the German health care system through education and intervention

Allmers, H.; Schmengler, J.; Skudlik, Christoph

doi:10.1067/mai.2002.126461

Cited by 177 publications

(109 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…[3] Termination of exposure to NRL products is an accepted means of secondary prevention in latexsensitised individuals. [13] The commonest presenting symptoms in both latex-positive and -negative participants who met the inclusion criteria were nasal (100.0% and 74.5%, respectively), followed by asthma in latexpositive (50.0%) and contact dermatitis in latex-negative subjects (46.8%). Other symptom profiles did not reveal any significant differences between latex-positive and -negative participants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[11,12] A study on primary prevention of NRL allergy in Germany by Allmers et al has confirmed a positive correlation between the use of powdered NRL gloves and suspected occupational latex allergy. [13] There is recent evidence that rates of NRL allergy have fallen significantly as a result of latex-free environment strategies and use of low-allergen, powder-free gloves in some industrialised countries. [3] Termination of exposure to NRL products is an accepted means of secondary prevention in latexsensitised individuals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Powdered gloves may cause serious latex allergy problems because the latex proteins adhere to the powder, become airborne and are subsequently inhaled. [13] This can cause sensitisation in atopic individuals.…”

Section: Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Latex allergy and its clinical features among healthcare workers at Mankweng Hospital, Limpopo Province, South Africa

et al. 2013

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Background and objectives. Latex allergy, caused by sensitisation in atopic individuals, is a common occupational disease among healthcare workers who use latex gloves. It may be present in non-atopic individuals as well. The main objective of this study was to document the prevalence and disease spectrum of latex allergy at Mankweng Hospital, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The secondary objective was to determine clinical presentation of the disease. Methods. A cross-sectional descriptive study, with an analytical component, was conducted among healthcare workers who worked in high-risk areas for latex sensitisation. ImmunoCAP testing was performed and followed by a skin-prick test (SPT) in those who tested negative to the blood test. Results. Two hundred screening questionnaires were distributed to healthcare workers at the hospital. Of these 158 (79.0%) were returned, with 59 participants meeting the inclusion criteria (experiencing symptoms due to wearing latex gloves). The mean age of the participants was 39.6 years (standard deviation 9.8 years, range 20 -60 years). There were more females (98.1%) than males (1.9%). Glove-related symptoms were present in 59 subjects (37.1%), in 7 (11.9%) of whom the ImmunoCAP was positive to latex (95% confidence interval 4.2 -22.9%). Fourteen participants were lost to follow-up before the SPT was performed. Thirty-eight of the participants with negative ImmunoCAP tests underwent SPT. Positive SPTs were reported in 5 of these 38 workers (13.2%), indicating that the ImmunoCAP test missed 11.1% (5/45) of latex-allergic individuals. The prevalence of latex allergy in this study was 8.3% (12/144). A denominator of 144 was used, as there is a possibility that some of the 14 individuals lost to follow-up could have tested positive to latex sensitisation by SPT. The symptoms experienced by latex-sensitised workers were rhinitis (100.0%), asthma (50.0%), dermatitis (25.0%), severe anaphylaxis (8.3%), abdominal pain (8.3%) and angio-oedema (8.3%). Conclusion. Our findings reveal that latex allergy is a problem at our hospital. The prevalence of 8.3% is comparable to findings in other South African centres. We recommend a latex-free protocol for high-risk areas and healthcare workers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Latex allergy and its clinical features among healthcare workers at Mankweng Hospital, Limpopo Province, South Africa

et al. 2013

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“…During the same period, the number of new cases of occupational allergy to latex declined substantially at two large teaching hospitals in Toronto that have approximately 8000 employees [84]. The publication of guidelines to prevent latex allergy and the subsequent increased use of powder-free latex surgical and examination gloves in German acute care hospitals was associated with significant declines in the numbers of occupational allergy and asthma cases reported to the agency responsible for accident insurance and worker's compensation measures [85].…”

Section: Reduction or Prevention Of Latex Sensitizationmentioning

confidence: 98%

Occupational allergies caused by latex

Ahmed

Sobczak

Yunginger³

2003

Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America

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“…Die Zahl der bestätigten BK 5101-Fälle stieg von etwa 300 im Jahr 1995 auf etwa 900 im Jahr 1998. Seitdem ist der Trend rückläufig, was vermutlich auf erfolgreiche Präventions-maßnahmen zurückzuführen ist [1,3,4]. Darüber hinaus wurde in der Literatur der Rückgang der Sensibilisierung gegenüber naturlatexhaltigen Produkten nach der Implementierung von Präventionsmaß-nahmen beschrieben [5].…”

Section: Hintergrund Und Fragestellungunclassified