[Prevalence of latex allergy among personnel at a hospital]

The aim of this study was to compile a register of all the employees of a University Hospital Centre who complained of dermatosis of the hands due to latex. Recruitment was made by their spontaneous presentation in the service of the Workers Doctor (Médecine de Travail). The prevalence of clinical signs of contact eczema or professional urticaria is 2.3% for all personnel. 2.7% for nurses, 4.4% for care assistants or ancillary staff of the hospital service. In this population, 73% of subjects have shown previous atopy. The positive predictive value of the allergy tests was 51.3%, 2.32% of ASH-ASI, 1.75% of AS, 1.47% of IDE were allergic to latex, about 1.06% of the total personnel. 80% had atopy and 36.66% had a crossed allergy (banana, kiwi, avocat, pollen). Prevalence was zero amongst the administrative officers, but not systematic enquiry was made in the professional category. The orthoergical dermatoses were more frequent amongst the ASH-ASI, though the positive predictive value of tests was less. The considerable exposure to a number of caustic substances, as well as absence of precautions such as rinsing and drying of hands may explain this. All employees with allergy to latex have been declared to have a professional illness a card that mentions this allergy has been given to them.