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JACI Highlights - August 2004
Latex allergy: Difference between surgical and examination gloves
Exposure to natural rubber latex can lead to life-threatening allergic reactions. In addition to causing skin reactions following contact, powder from latex gloves can become airborne, and inhalation of these particles can be life-threatening. Many hospitals are replacing natural rubber latex gloves, especially those with powder, with synthetic gloves to protect latex-allergic workers and patients. There is a sense that these changes are leading to an overall decrease in new cases of latex allergies. However, while many hospitals have switched to using synthetic "examination" gloves, powdered latex "surgeon's" gloves are still widely used. Brown et al. (JACI, August 2004) examined differences in the particles released into the air from powdered latex examination gloves and powdered latex surgeon's gloves. In a closed box, powdered examination gloves and powdered surgeon's gloves were snapped and the sizes of the particles and the amount of latex allergen on the particles in the air were measured. They found that surgeon's gloves released lower quantities and larger sizes of latex allergen-containing particles into the air. This finding may help explain why there has been an apparent decrease in new cases of latex allergy in hospitals that have successfully replaced powdered latex examination gloves with synthetic gloves but have continued occasional use of powdered surgeon's gloves. While the overall goal of hospitals should be to replace all latex-containing medical products that release detectable latex allergen, immediate removal of powdered latex gloves minimizes allergic reactions by decreasing exposure through skin contact and inhalation of latex-containing particles.
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