PMID- 9052315
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 19970326
LR  - 20190704
IS  - 0003-2999 (Print)
IS  - 0003-2999 (Linking)
VI  - 84
IP  - 3
DP  - 1997 Mar
TI  - The prevalence of latex sensitivity among anesthesiology staff.
PG  - 629-33
AB  - Reports dealing with allergic reactions to latex among health care professionals 
      are increasing steadily. This study is the first epidemiological investigation of 
      latex allergy among anesthesia staff. We tested 101 persons of the staff of the 
      Institute of Anesthesiology, Kantonsspital, Lucerne, Switzerland, using a 
      standardized questionnaire, prick test (latex extract), scratch test (latex 
      glove), and immunoglobin E (IgE) analysis. Sixteen of 101 persons (15.8%) had a 
      positive skin test. Two of them had a positive radioallergosorbent test (RAST) 
      Class II, and one person was Class I. Risk factors were a history of atopy (P < 
      0.001) and positive skin tests on atopy screening (P = 0.016). IgE levels were 
      increased in the latex-sensitive group. Three of the 11 sensitized persons (total 
      sensitized persons 16) who performed spirometry had significantly reduced 
      expiratory peak flow values during working hours. It is concluded that 
      anesthesiology staff is at high risk of allergic sensitization to latex. The most 
      important risk indicator was an atopy. Skin tests are more sensitive than blood 
      tests (i.e., specific antibodies, IgE).
FAU - Konrad, C
AU  - Konrad C
AD  - Institute of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Kantonsspital, Switzerland.
FAU - Fieber, T
AU  - Fieber T
FAU - Gerber, H
AU  - Gerber H
FAU - Schuepfer, G
AU  - Schuepfer G
FAU - Muellner, G
AU  - Muellner G
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - United States
TA  - Anesth Analg
JT  - Anesthesia and analgesia
JID - 1310650
RN  - 0 (Latex)
SB  - IM
MH  - Adult
MH  - *Anesthesia Department, Hospital
MH  - Female
MH  - Humans
MH  - Hypersensitivity/*epidemiology
MH  - Latex/*immunology
MH  - Male
MH  - Occupational Diseases/epidemiology/*immunology
MH  - Skin Tests
EDAT- 1997/03/01 00:00
MHDA- 1997/03/01 00:01
CRDT- 1997/03/01 00:00
PHST- 1997/03/01 00:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 1997/03/01 00:01 [medline]
PHST- 1997/03/01 00:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1097/00000539-199703000-00031 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Anesth Analg. 1997 Mar;84(3):629-33. doi: 10.1097/00000539-199703000-00031.