Prevalence of latex sensitization in health care workers of a general hospital in Palermo, Sicily.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of latex sensitization in a group of hospital employees in a general hospital.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study on hypersensitivity to latex gloves among health-care workers.

SETTING

A general hospital in Palermo, Sicily.

PATIENTS

196 health-care workers answered a questionnaire about their case history of allergic diseases (i. e., rhinitis and/or asthma) and about symptoms after wearing latex gloves. All subjects were tested by skin prick test (SPT) with commercial latex extract and aeroallergens and had blood draw for total serum IgE and latex-specific IgE testing and glove-use test.

MAIN RESULTS

42% of the subjects who answered the questionnaire reported at least one symptom after wearing latex gloves. All symptoms were local, and none of the subjects reported systemic reactions. The most common symptom was itching, but none of subjects with only itching presented a positive SPT or specific serum IgE to latex. The SPT to latex was positive in 19 of 196 subjects (9.7%). Specific IgE to latex were found in 15/196 subjects (7.6%). Glove-use test was positive in 14/196 (7.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall prevalence of latex sensitivity in health-care workers in our epidemiological setting is 7.1%. An accurate diagnosis must take in account the integration of in vivo and in vitro tests with previous history of allergic disease.