Abstract
BackgroundOccupational reaction to natural rubber latex (NRL) glove use by healthcare employees has been an area of increasing concern. Unfortunately, there is little data demonstrating the prevalence and severity of actual reactivity to NRL.MethodOccupational reaction to NRL was estimated using workers' compensation claims filed by healthcare employees in Oregon for the period of 1987–1998. For the first ten years, these claims were estimated by source and conditions consistent with NRL glove reactions, while in the last two years a specific code developed in 1997 for NRL glove reactions was also employed.ResultsThe claim rate was on average 0.58 per 10,000 healthcare workers annually, which constituted 0.29% of all workers' compensation claims. The most common condition experienced was dermatitis (80%) and most common body part affected was the hands (55.4%). The majority of claimants, 45 (69.2%), reported taking less than a month off work, suggesting most reactions were minor in nature, although one fatality was reported. The average NRL claim cost was $8,309.48. Overall the average cost per insured healthcare worker was approximately $0.50 per year. The occupational groups with the highest number of claims were nurses (30.8% of claimants) and nursing aides and orderlies (24.6% of claimants).ConclusionsIn comparison with other workers' compensation claims filed by healthcare workers during this period, 0.25% of the total was potentially related to NRL gloves. The rare incidence of respiratory and ocular claims is inconsistent with the hypothesis that asthmatic or conjunctival reactions to NRL gloves are common.
Highlights
Occupational reaction to natural rubber latex (NRL) glove use by healthcare employees has been an area of increasing concern
In comparison with other workers' compensation claims filed by healthcare workers during this period, 0.25% of the total was potentially related to NRL gloves
There was an average of 0.58 claims annually per 10,000 healthcare workers employed in the state, which is similar to previous annual NRL glove claim prevalence rates of between 0.71 and 2.66 claims per 10,000 workers
Summary
Occupational reaction to natural rubber latex (NRL) glove use by healthcare employees has been an area of increasing concern. Most studies have concentrated on data collected using clinical methodologies, such as in vitro assays testing for the prevalence of IgE antibodies or direct exposure tests including skin prick and skin patch tests. The results of these efforts have produced varying and inconsistent results, estimating the rate (page number not for citation purposes). BMC Public Health 2002, 2 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/2/21 of healthcare worker sensitivity between 2.9% to 22% [1,2,3,4,5,6,7] These methods do not adequately address reactions experienced on the job by healthcare workers, because sensitization does not equate to reactivity [8]. The number of claims per 10,000 healthcare workers in the states previously examined have ranged from a low of 0.71 in Minnesota to a high of 2.66 in Washington State, with average annual costs ranging from a low of $0.08 in North Dakota to a high of $0.74 in Washington State per covered healthcare worker [9–11]
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