The FDA also requires a new caution label on all medical latex-containing products. It will take years for hospitals and warehouses to use current stocks, however, so tell patients that hypoallergenic products are not okay and that some medical latex products will not be labeled immediately. If latex gloves are used elsewhere in the facility, they must be powder free and have a low allergen content. Any dry, molded rubber products, such as stethoscope tubing and wheelchair tires, that come into direct contact with the patient should be covered. Most U.S. children's hospitals have latex-safe ORs for those with spina bifida or congenital abnormalities that require multiple corrective procedures.
Physicians can take steps in the office to reduce the risk for staff and patients.
Putting information in the waiting room to inform patients about latex allergy. Many people don't associate their symptoms with rubber products, she said. Session FOC 815. Presented at the 57th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. Your turn You can express your views on this article, or other relevant themes, in the Infectious Diseases in Children Specialty Forums.