Protein contact dermatitis in slaughterhouse workers.

Protein contact dermatitis, described as "gut eczema" or "fat eczema" by slaughterhouse workers, was first described a decade ago and presents as an itching, vescular eczema on the hands and fingers, a few hours after contact with animal material, especially gut material. In a cross-sectional study of 144 slaughterhouse workers, a cumulative prevalence of current and anamnestic cases of protein contact dermatitis of 22% was found, with the highest prevalence in workers eviscerating and cleansing gut. The scratch patch test was the only skin test showing positive results in workers with protein contact dermatitis, positive reactions being found, however, in less than half the cases.