Occupational contact allergy in nurses: results from the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology 2003-2012.

BACKGROUND

Healthcare workers are occupationally exposed to various allergens in protective gloves, surface or instrument disinfectants, drugs, and skin care products. An increased prevalence of sensitization to thiurams, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde and glyoxal in nurses with occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) has been known since the 1990s.

OBJECTIVES

To update the range of occupational allergens in healthcare professionals.

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed patch test data from the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK), 2003-2012. Patch test results from 2248 nurses with OCD were compared with those of 2138 nurses without OCD.

RESULTS

Significantly increased sensitization rates were found for thiuram mix (6.7%), potassium dichromate (5.7%), methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (4.4%), colophonium (3.4%), 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (1.7%), and zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (1.7%). Patch testing with products from the patients' workplaces gave additional clues to further allergens, for example tetrazepam.

CONCLUSIONS

The known range of contact sensitization in nurses with OCD has been confirmed. Formaldehyde allergy seems to be less important today. Drugs such as tetrazepam are occupational sensitizers in nurses. The increase in chromium sensitization remains unexplained.