Just to add to the debate, the following are extracts from our Technical
Bulletin on latex allergy and the material we have used for talks on this
subject.
"The majority of skin complaints of latex gloves are related to irritation
rather than to allergy."
Nettis et al, Type I allergy to natural rubber latex and type IV allergy to
rubber chemicals in health care workers with glove related symptoms, Clin
Exp All; 2002, 32, 441-447
"Our results showed that the large majority of skin complaints from gloves
was caused by irritation rather than allergy."
Stingeni L, Lapomarda V, Vis P, Undesirable effects from latex gloves in
hospital health-care personnel, Journal of the European Academy of
Dermatology and Venereology, 1996, 7, 44-48
"Our results suggest a preventive effect on NRL allergy in dental students
from the change to low-protein/powder free NRL gloves
Saary JM et al, Changes in rates of natural rubber latex sensitivity among
dental school students and staff members after changes in latex gloves,
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2002, 109, 1, 131-135
"We suggest the use of low-allergen latex products identified by IgE
binding, basophil histamine release assays and skin testing as a feasible
preventive measure for latex allergy.""
Mahler V et al, Prevention of latex allergy by selection of low-allergen
gloves, Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 2000, 30, 509-520
Change to powder-free NRL gloves in the German health care system resulted
in decline in occupational allergies. Conclusion was that this was a valid
solution to the problem.
Allmers H et al, Primary prevention of natural rubber latex allergy in the
German health care system through education and intervention, Journal of
Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2002, 110,2,318-323
Following is an extract from the Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Group
manual on hand hygiene in the food industry:
"Paulson suggests that wearing of gloves may not in fact be as beneficial as
believed. One study involved inoculating subjects hands with
E.coli and then wearing vinyl gloves. At time zero, the gloves were sampled
to obtain a baseline value and it was found that in many cases there were
high counts on the outside of the glove, suggesting that E.coli transferred
from the hands through existing holes or punctures in the gloves. A study
found that 80% of vinyl gloves had punctures and tears. Considering the
increase in microbial counts on the skin with occlusion, any breaches in the
glove during food handling may pose a contamination hazard rather than
control"
There has also been at least one report of a type I reaction to a disposable
nitrile glove. It is the type I reaction that poses the - albeit rare -
possibility of anaphylaxis.
The question that we need to address is whether, with all the hype about
latex, whether we are at risk of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Latex undoubtedly provides the optimum biological protection, so where the
gloves are provided for this purpose, to provide a glove with a lower
performance on biological protection on the somewhat doubtful proposition
that a latex glove might be a risk to health could put the employer at risk
of having increased the risk of infection to the user. Could be an
interesting legal case should the user then develop such an infection.
Regards
Chris Packham
EnviroDerm Services
Solutions in skin management
For information on skin management, technical bulletins and information
about our support services visit our website (www.enviroderm.co.uk)
For immediate help e-mail us at [log in to unmask] or phone on +44 1386
832 311
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