Prevalence of latex sensitization in health care workers of a general hospital in Palermo, Sicily

• Published in: Journal of investigational allergology & clinical immunology Vol. 12; no. 2; p. 114
• Main Authors: Di Lorenzo, Gabriele, Vitale, Francesco, Pacor, Maria Luisa, Pellitteri, Maria Esposito, Drago, Agata, Cucchiara, Rosaria, Seroni, Gianpiero, Intonazzo, Vincenza, Romano, Nino, Caruso, Calogero
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain 2002
• Subjects: Adult; Allergens - adverse effects; Antibody Specificity - immunology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Gloves, Protective; Health Personnel; Hospitals, General; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Immediate - epidemiology; Hypersensitivity, Immediate - immunology; Hypersensitivity, Immediate - therapy; Immunization; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; Latex - adverse effects; Latex Hypersensitivity - epidemiology; Latex Hypersensitivity - immunology; Latex Hypersensitivity - therapy; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - immunology; Occupational Diseases - therapy; Prevalence; Respiratory Tract Diseases - epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Diseases - immunology; Sicily - epidemiology; Skin Diseases - epidemiology; Skin Diseases - immunology; Skin Tests; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; Sicily
• ISSN: 1018-9068

To assess the prevalence of latex sensitization in a group of hospital employees in a general hospital. Cross-sectional study on hypersensitivity to latex gloves among health-care workers. A general hospital in Palermo, Sicily. 196 health-care workers answered a questionnaire about their case history of allergic diseases (i. e., rhinitis and/or asthma) and about symptoms after wearing latex gloves. All subjects were tested by skin prick test (SPT) with commercial latex extract and aeroallergens and had blood draw for total serum IgE and latex-specific IgE testing and glove-use test. 42% of the subjects who answered the questionnaire reported at least one symptom after wearing latex gloves. All symptoms were local, and none of the subjects reported systemic reactions. The most common symptom was itching, but none of subjects with only itching presented a positive SPT or specific serum IgE to latex. The SPT to latex was positive in 19 of 196 subjects (9.7%). Specific IgE to latex were found in 15/196 subjects (7.6%). Glove-use test was positive in 14/196 (7.1%). The overall prevalence of latex sensitivity in health-care workers in our epidemiological setting is 7.1%. An accurate diagnosis must take in account the integration of in vivo and in vitro tests with previous history of allergic disease.