Zaglaniczny K
Graduate Nurse Anesthesia Program, William Beaumont Hospital/Oakland University, Royal Oak, Mich., USA.
AANA J. 2001 Oct;69(5):413-24.
The prevalence of latex allergies in healthcare workers has significantly increased over the past 2 decades. Increases in exposure to latex products in healthcare environments are related primarily to the use of gloves for barrier protection. In the early 1980s, with the implementation of universal precautions and appropriate healthcare worker protection, latex glove use dramatically rose in many countries. Manufacturing techniques and additional factories for latex gloves were developed to meet the tremendous demand. As a result of new "fast-track" production processes, some of the latex gloves had variant amounts of powder and allergen content. Synthetic materials, such as polyvinyl, polyurethanes, nitrile, and neoprene, are being used to manufacture medical gloves. Some hospitals and clinics have adopted the use of these alternatives to provide a "latex-free" healthcare environment. Risk reduction and prevention strategies are being implemented in many countries. Latex sensitivity and allergy can present as variable clinical reactions including contact dermatitis, rhinoconjuctivitis, asthma, and anaphylaxis. Some healthcare providers who have coexisting risk factors, such as atopy and food allergies (chestnuts, bananas, avocados, passion fruit, celery, potatoes, and peaches), are at an even greater risk for severe allergic reactions following repeated latex exposure. This journal course will provide an overview of the information available related to latex allergy in healthcare workers.
在过去20年中，医护人员中乳胶过敏的患病率显著上升。医护环境中乳胶产品接触的增加主要与使用手套进行屏障保护有关。在20世纪80年代初，随着普遍预防措施和医护人员适当防护措施的实施，许多国家乳胶手套的使用急剧增加。为满足巨大需求，开发了乳胶手套的制造技术并增设了工厂。由于新的“快速通道”生产工艺，一些乳胶手套的粉末和过敏原含量有所不同。正在使用合成材料，如聚乙烯、聚氨酯、腈和氯丁橡胶来制造医用手套。一些医院和诊所已采用这些替代品以提供“无乳胶”的医护环境。许多国家正在实施降低风险和预防策略。乳胶敏感和过敏可表现为多种临床反应，包括接触性皮炎、鼻结膜炎、哮喘和过敏反应。一些存在共存风险因素的医护人员，如特应性和食物过敏（栗子、香蕉、鳄梨、西番莲、芹菜、土豆和桃子），在反复接触乳胶后发生严重过敏反应的风险更高。本期刊课程将概述与医护人员乳胶过敏相关的现有信息。
