Adverse Reactions to Surgical Latex Gloves in Korea

Hwang, Jee In; Park, Hyeoun Ae

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence rate of adverse reactions to latex gloves. The study compared allergic reactions to ordinary latex gloves with four types of hypoallergenic gloves among operating room nurses at a teaching hospital in Seoul, Korea. Data were collected from 63 operating room nurses by a questionnaire and direct observation of a skin prick test. Among respondents, 25 nurses with adverse reactions to latex gloves were selected for the skin prick and exposure tests with five latex gloves (1 ordinary glove, and 4 hypoallergenic gloves) using a repeated measures design of counterbalancing method. Study Results are as follows: (1) The response rate of the questionnaire was 96.8%, and the prick test was performed in 61 out of 63 nurses. (2) Common symptoms of allergic reactions to latex gloves were rash (49.2%), skin itching (44.3%), dizziness (31.1%), and eye itching (26.2%). (3) The prevalence rate of adverse reactions was 80.3%, and that of latex allergy was 9.8%. (4) Atopic subjects had more latex allergy than the non-atopics. (5) There was no difference in the incidence rate of latex allergy among the five gloves by the skin prick test. But with the skin exposure test, ordinary latex gloves had a higher incidence rate of latex allergy than the hypoallergenic gloves (p<0.0001).