The Effect of a Transition to Powder-Free Latex Gloves on Workers' Compensation Claims for Latex-Related Illness

Malerich, Patricia; Wilson, Morgan; Mowad, Christen

doi:10.2310/6620.2008.08032

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Latex allergic proteins from gloves can attach to the particles of powder, which can become airborne and trigger allergic reactions. Introducing powder-free gloves has been shown to result in significant decreases in the latex allergy prevalence and workers' compensation claims 21,[25][26][27] .…”

Section: Airborne Latex Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Current prevalence rate of latex allergy: Why it remains a problem?

McIntosh

Liu

2016

Journal of Occupational Health

109

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Objectives: This article aims to review the current prevalence rate of latex allergy among healthcare workers, susceptible patients, and the general public, and to investigate why latex is still a ubiquitous occupational health hazard. Methods: Scientific publications on PubMed, particularly those published within the last five years, and current regulations from agencies such as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were reviewed. Consumer and commercial products that may contain latex were also surveyed. Results: Approximately 12 million tons of natural rubber latex is produced annually and is widely used to manufacture millions of consumer and commercial products. Only limited number of latex-derived products have been approved and regulated by government agencies, such as FDA, whereas the majority of finished products do not label whether they contain latex. Owing to millions of unidentifiable products containing latex and many routes for exposure to latex, preventing contact with latex allergens and reducing the prevalence of latex allergy are more difficult than expected. Reported data suggest that the average prevalence of latex allergy worldwide remains 9.7%, 7.2%, and 4.3% among healthcare workers, susceptible patients, and general population, respectively. Conclusions: Latex-derived products are ubiquitous, and latex allergy remains a highly prevalent health risk in many occupations and to the general population. Developing alternative materials and increasing the ability to identify and label latex-derived products will be practicable approaches to effectively control the health risks associated with latex.

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Section: Airborne Latex Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Current prevalence rate of latex allergy: Why it remains a problem?

McIntosh

Liu

2016

Journal of Occupational Health

109

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“…Hypoallergenic gloves have been associated with reduced latex aeroallergen concentrations, reduced conversion rates and a subsequent decrease in clinic visits, and compensation claims for latex-induced occupational asthma and allergic contact dermatitis among HCWs. 18 20 As much as the use of low or powder-free gloves has been shown to reduce latex-related symptoms, other studies have shown that exposed HCWs still exhibit symptoms at very low levels of measureable airborne latex allergens. 21 Most studies have reported on the airborne levels and inhalational route of exposure hence the recommendation on low-powdered or powder-free latex gloves.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The prevalence of latex sensitisation and allergy and associated risk factors among healthcare workers using hypoallergenic latex gloves at King Edward VIII Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa: a cross-sectional study

Phaswana

Naidoo

2013

BMJ Open

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To cite: Phaswana SM, Naidoo S. The prevalence of latex sensitisation and allergy and associated risk factors among healthcare workers using hypoallergenic latex gloves at King Edward VIII Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa: a crosssectional study. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: A tertiary hospital in eThekwini municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Participants: 600 healthcare workers were randomly selected and 501 (337 exposed and 164 unexposed) participated. Participants who were pregnant, with less than 1 year of work as a healthcare worker and a history of anaphylactic reaction were excluded from the study. Primary and secondary outcome measures:Latex sensitisation and latex allergy were the outcome of interest and they were successfully measured.Results: The prevalence of latex sensitisation and allergy was observed among exposed workers (7.1% and 5.9%) and unexposed workers (3.1% and 1.8%). Work-related allergy symptoms were significantly higher in exposed workers (40.9%, p<0.05). Duration of employment was inversely associated with latex allergy (OR 0.9; 95% CI 0.8 to 0.9). The risk of latex sensitisation (OR 4.2; 95% CI 1.2 to 14.1) and allergy (OR 5.1; 95% CI 1.2 to 21.2) increased with the exclusive use of powder-free latex gloves. A doseresponse relationship was observed for powdered latex gloves (OR 1.1; 95% CI 1.0 to 1.2). Atopy (OR 1.5; 95% CI 0.7 to 3.3 and OR 1.4; 95% CI 0.6 to 3.2) and fruit allergy (OR 2.3; 95% CI 0.8 to 6.7 and OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.1 to 9.2) also increased the risk of latex sensitisation and allergy.

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“…In this literature survey on latex allergy, several successful preventive initiatives have been identified. The scientific reports confirm the positive preventive effect for medical personnel of switching from powdered to powder‐free latex gloves or latex‐free alternatives in medical and dental care (28–46). Decreases in the incidence of occupational latex allergy have been reported from Finland, Germany, and Belgium (28, 29, 31).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

“…These steps, together with individual latex avoidance, resulted in successful secondary prevention in 16 latex‐sensitized staff members (45). At Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA, United States, the number of workers' compensation claims for latex‐related illness decreased significantly after transition from powdered to powder‐free latex gloves (46).…”

Section: Examples Of Local Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Attempts have been made to replace the latex proteins with casein from cow's milk (64) and to reduce the amount of latex proteins by enzymatic treatment (65); however, these methods may carry a risk of introducing further allergens into the manufacturing process. The cost of the switch to less allergenic but more expensive medical gloves has been estimated to be economically defensible, due to decreases in compensation claims and time lost from work (30,41,46,66).…”

Section: Economic Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Primary prevention of latex allergy in healthcare—spectrum of strategies including the European glove standardization

et al. 2012

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SummaryIgE-mediated allergy to natural rubber latex was first noted from rubber gloves in 1979. The initial reports in dermatological journals described contact urticarial reactions; later, severe generalized allergic reactions and asthma were documented. A considerable proportion of the people involved in medical and dental care were found to be sensitized to latex. This article describes and surveys a broad range of primary prevention measures at the local and national levels. Examples are given from paediatrics, dental education, and medical care. National strategies and position papers on latex allergy are presented in which medical professionals, manufacturers and public authorities have cooperated. Special reference is paid to the European work to standardize medical gloves, which led to document EN 455:3.

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The Effect of a Transition to Powder-Free Latex Gloves on Workers' Compensation Claims for Latex-Related Illness

Cited by 13 publications

References 15 publications

Current prevalence rate of latex allergy: Why it remains a problem?

Current prevalence rate of latex allergy: Why it remains a problem?

The prevalence of latex sensitisation and allergy and associated risk factors among healthcare workers using hypoallergenic latex gloves at King Edward VIII Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa: a cross-sectional study

Primary prevention of latex allergy in healthcare—spectrum of strategies including the European glove standardization

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