Latex allergies: overview, prevention and implications for nursing care

Latex allergies are becoming increasingly common among healthcare workers and patients since the initiation of the use of universal precautions. Select groups of patients and professionals are at higher risk for this problem, such as workers in the rubber and healthcare industries, and persons with congenital urologic abnormalities, spina bifida, myelodysplasis and any other condition requiring frequent exposure of skin or mucous membranes to latex products. Specific interventions and alterations in standard procedure are required to prevent latex complications, such as compiling a list of products that contain latex and alternative latex-free products, screening for latex allergy upon admission, and creating a written policy to protect workers. A multidisciplinary approach is needed to investigate which products contain latex and to establish protocols for each department.