[Epidemiology of latex allergy in healthcare workers]

Natural rubber latex is a recognized allergen and health care workers have an increased risk of sensitisation and allergic symptoms to latex.

The aim of the study was to evaluate prevalence and incidence of latex sensitisation and symptoms in health care workers.

We analyzed the reported data from the scientific literature and from the follow-up study in health care workers in Trieste Hospitals carrying on since 1999.

Latex allergy and sensitisation are significantly higher in health care workers respect to the general population with symptoms, such as urticaria, rhinoconjunctivis and asthma, ranging between 4 and 5.6%. Latex sensitisation evaluated by skin prick test is ranging between 6 to 7.8%. All studies done demonstrated the reduction of symptoms and incidence sensitisations after the changeover to a powder- free environment and the avoidance of unnecessary glove use.

Health care workers have an increased risk of sensitisation and allergic symptoms to latex but the use of un-powdered latex gloves by all workers and use of non-latex gloves by sensitized subjects can reduce symptoms and prevent new sensitisation. Nevetheless the use of no-latex gloves when avaiable has to be the best choice from the preventive point of view.