Contact dermatitis due to surgical latex gloves--a personal experience.

Within an operating department, the health workers are subjected to various real or potential hazards, from laser rays to contamination by blood. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is just one of the reasons why gloves are worn for all procedures where contamination is possible. Various types of rubber or vinyl gloves are used for many purposes. Sterile rubber (latex) gloves for surgical operations and examination, non sterile latex or vinyl gloves for personal protection and cleaning. Little attention is actually given to the wearers hands and an increasing number of operating theatre personal are becoming sensitive to latex gloves. In Finland in 1988, 7.4% of surgeons and 5.6% of operating theatre nurses had developed contact dermatitis. This is a serious problem. In extreme cases the nurse or doctor may have to leave their chosen profession. Contact dermatitis is not only restricted to the wearers hands. Case studies have shown that patients can also be allergic to their surgeons gloves. This is a worrying problem as we are the caring profession and are supposed to make the patients stay in hospital as trauma free as possible.