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To the Editor.—Dr Bernstein¹ discusses latex allergies in his article "Allergic Reactions to Workplace Antigens," but he does not cite a recent development in the field. Since 8% to 12% of regularly exposed health care workers are sensitized to latex and the overall prevalence of latex asthma is up to 2.5%, physicians should be aware that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health² has recently produced an advisory recommending the following measures: use nonlatex gloves for activities not likely to involve contact with infectious materials and only use powder-free latex gloves with reduced protein content when necessary. These recommendations highlight the importance of symptom recognition and appropriate consultation, with avoidance as a treatment measure and education of workers being cornerstones of management. The Food and Drug Administration³ has mandated that all medical devices be labeled as to their latex content beginning in 1998.

The nature of this epidemic . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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RELATED ARTICLE

Allergic Reactions to Workplace Allergens
David I. Bernstein
JAMA. 1997;278(22):1907-1913.
ABSTRACT