[Propacetamol and new occupational contact dermatitis]

We describe the cases of three hospital nurses who presented eczematous lesions on the hands and eyelids. They worked in surgery department or in post anaesthesia recovery room, all preparing syringes of Pro-Dafalgan (propacetamol: parenteral paracetamol form). They were not sensitive to oral paracetamol or occupational products and latex. During week-end or holidays when they stopped handling Pro-Dafalgan, the eczema recovered but relapsed on working. A few cases are described in the literature so precautions begin to be preconized for healthcare workers but they are not usually in practice. Test performed with solvent, paracetamol, latex, formol and other hospital allergen tests were negative. The only allergen would be propacetamol because all tests performed with it were strongly positive. Following the official evaluation method in pharmacovigilance, based on chronologic and semiologic criterias, considering the positivity of rechallenge and specific tests, propacetamol imputability was probable in all our cases. It is preconized to declare cases to Regional Pharmacovigilance Centers to complete information about handling risks of this very usual analgesic.