One in 10 health care workers frequently exposed to rubber surgical and examination gloves is on the cusp of developing allergy symptoms that could seriously affect both their health and their careers, according to a new study from Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. Hamilton presents his group's results, funded by the National Institutes of Health, on March 15 at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Hamilton has been a leader in efforts to reduce hospital use of products containing rubber, sometimes called latex, for health care professionals and patients. He is concerned that the potentially life-threatening consequences of this allergy are still very underappreciated.
Reactions can range from a localized skin rash or sneezing to respiratory distress or death.
By stopping exposure, we should be able to stop the sensitized but asymptomatic group from developing symptoms. Examination and surgical gloves are believed to be the main risk factors for health care workers, but other stretchable rubber objects, such as balloons or condoms, can cause a reaction. Rubber proteins from the gloves can be absorbed through direct skin contact. They also can attach to corn-starch donning powder inside the gloves and enter the body through inhalation when the gloves are pulled off and the powder becomes airborne. Performance data for the extract Hamilton used in the skin test, which his team developed, are undergoing review by the Food and Drug Administration.