PMID- 17006694
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20070815
LR  - 20181113
IS  - 0340-0131 (Print)
IS  - 0340-0131 (Linking)
VI  - 80
IP  - 5
DP  - 2007 Apr
TI  - Latex allergy in health care workers in Taiwan: prevalence, clinical features.
PG  - 455-7
AB  - BACKGROUND: Latex allergy is becoming a major health concern among healthcare 
      workers, of whom approximately 2.8 to 18% are reportedly sensitized. OBJECTIVE: 
      The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of a natural rubber latex 
      (NRL) allergy screening program to identify sensitized hospital employees. 
      METHODS: Nurses (n = 130) assigned to operating theaters and intensive care units 
      were evaluated using a written questionnaire for symptoms of atopy (asthma, 
      rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic eczyma), possible reactions to latex gloves, 
      other medical devices and previous surgery. Serological testing for total 
      immunoglobulin E (IgE), latex-specific IgE, and specific-IgE to melon, banana, 
      kiwi, tomato, and chestnut were performed using Pharmacia CAP radioallergosorbent 
      tests. Skin pick test (SPT) for latex allergen was also performed. RESULTS: 
      Elevated serum total IgE was found in 22(16.9%) of the 130 nurses, 3(16.7%) of 
      whom had increased latex-specific IgE further confirmed by SPT. The overall 
      prevalence of latex allergy was 2.3% (3/130). No cross reactive fruit-allergy was 
      found among the latex-sensitized nurses. CONCLUSION: This study supports the 
      existence of other forms of atopy are related to an increased risk of latex 
      sensitization. The NRL screening program used in this study is feasible for use 
      in identifying latex-sensitized employees.
FAU - Wan, Kong-Sang
AU  - Wan KS
AD  - Department of Pediatrics, Taipei City Hospital, Yangming Branch, No.105 Yu Sheng 
      Road, Shi Lin District, Taipei, Taiwan. gwan1998@gmail.com
FAU - Lue, Hung-Chi
AU  - Lue HC
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
DEP - 20060928
PL  - Germany
TA  - Int Arch Occup Environ Health
JT  - International archives of occupational and environmental health
JID - 7512134
RN  - 37341-29-0 (Immunoglobulin E)
SB  - IM
MH  - Humans
MH  - Immunoglobulin E/*analysis/blood
MH  - Latex Hypersensitivity/blood/*epidemiology
MH  - Nursing Staff, Hospital
MH  - Occupational Exposure/*analysis
MH  - Surveys and Questionnaires
MH  - Taiwan/epidemiology
EDAT- 2006/09/29 09:00
MHDA- 2007/08/19 09:00
CRDT- 2006/09/29 09:00
PHST- 2005/06/24 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2006/09/04 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2006/09/29 09:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2007/08/19 09:00 [medline]
PHST- 2006/09/29 09:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1007/s00420-006-0146-z [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2007 Apr;80(5):455-7. doi: 
      10.1007/s00420-006-0146-z. Epub 2006 Sep 28.