Latex allergy of healthcare workers

Abstract

Objectives: Latex allergy has been recognized to be an important problem and to be associated with serological cross-reactivity to inhalant and plant food. We investigated specific IgE sensitization for latex allergen, inhalant allergens, and food allergens in health care workers. Methods: Serum samples of 6 health care workers were investigated: 3 doctors, 1 nurse, and 2 students. All had a history of latex allergy. Samples were analyzed for IgE antibodies against latex allergen, 2 common inhalant allergens (taxodiaceae and betula platyphylla), and 10 plant food allergens (corn, peach, banana, melon, orange, kiwi, avocado, tomato, carrot, and potato). Results: A specific IgE antibody for latex allergen and taxodiaceae allergen was found in 3 cases. One case presented specific IgE sensitization for betula platyphylla, corn, orange, tomato, carrot, and potato. Conclusion: Determination of specific IgE was not always a sensitive neither a specific test to establish the diagnosis of these allergies. And some health care workers suffer from a latex allergy which often associate inhalant and food allergies. So we as health care workers need to be concerned with not only latex, but also inhalant and food. And we should keep in the mind that health care workers use low protein, powder-free gloves to reduce the prevalence of latex allergy.