Abstract

Health care workers (HCW) are a high risk group for developing natural rubber latex (NRL) hypersensitivity and allergy. Some studies showed a correlation between time and frequency of exposure to NRL gloves and hypersensitivity, but a recent meta-analysis showed no clear evidences for such assumption. To determine the prevalence of NRL hypersensitivity and allergy in a group of HCW at the University of Chile Clinical Hospital. Ninety five HCW (aged 37+/-10 years, 59 females) were interviewed about time of exposure, atopic diseases and latex-related allergy symptoms. Different NRL extracts and seven NRL gloves brands were tested by the prick test method. Twenty four workers (25%, 95% CI = 16.9%-35.2%) were sensitized. No gender differences were found. No symptomatic cases were found in the sensitized group. In the workplace, six and two non sensitized subjects had respiratory symptoms or contact urticaria, respectively. Sensitivity to bananas, avocadoes, kiwi and chestnut was not significantly more common among latex sensitive individuals. No differences between sensitized and non sensitized subjects were observed for the presence of atopic diseases or the mean number of years at the workplace. The sensitization rate to NRL increased along with years of work, from 18.6% in patients working less than 10 years, to 28.1% in the group between 10 and 20 years and to 35% in those working more than 21 years (p=0.693). Sensitization was also related to the weekly hours of exposure: 1-10 hours, 17%; 11-20 hours, 23.5%; 21-30 hours, 50% and 31-40 hours, 28.5% (p=0.036). Sensitization increased proportionally to the years and weekly hours wearing NLR gloves. We did not find symptomatic patients in the sensitized group.

Highlights

  • Health care workers (HCW) are a high risk group for developing natural rubber latex (NRL) hypersensitivity and allergy

  • A través del test de Chi Cuadrado se evaluó la asociación entre prevalencia y las otras características en estudio como género, enfermedades atópicas, años laborales y horas semanales de exposición

  • An Sist Sanit Navar 2003; 26 Suppl 2: 97-102

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Summary

Background

Health care workers (HCW) are a high risk group for developing natural rubber latex (NRL) hypersensitivity and allergy. Se considera que estas pruebas son muy sensibles, ya que casi la totalidad de las personas que han presentado una reacción alérgica al látex, presentan un prick test positivo con alguno de los extractos[28], lo que es esperable si consideramos que antes de establecerse una reacción clínica mediada inmunológicamente, debe existir un período de sensibilización del individuo con los antígenos (alergenos) causales. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de sensibilización y de síntomas de alergia al látex en un grupo de personas de pabellones quirúrgicos del Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, y su relación con años y frecuencia de exposición al látex

MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS
Findings
Sensibilización total
Full Text
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