Prevalence and risk factors for latex glove allergy among female clinical nurses: a multicenter questionnaire study in China

Abstract

Background: Natural rubber latex glove use is widespread in mainland China, but the prevalence and risk factors for latex glove allergy among clinical nurses have previously been unreported.

Methods: A questionnaire was used to collect information on latex glove-related allergy among clinical nursing staff in 35 hospitals of eight provinces in the southern, central southern, and northern regions of China, and the risk factors were calculated with logistic regression analysis. Some subjects with glove dermatitis were patch tested with a modified European standard series of allergens.

Results: Among 8485 female nurses in eight provinces of China, overall prevalence of latex glove allergy was 8·8%. Of 743 symptomatic nurses, 573 (77·1%) and 475 (63·9%) reported symptoms suggestive of glove dermatitis and type I latex allergy, respectively. Of 69 randomly selected subjects with glove dermatitis, 18 (26·1%) had a positive patch to rubber additives. Employment seniority, positive family and personal history of allergic diseases, and longer extent of time spent in a single hospital room were associated with latex allergy, while using >5 pairs of gloves per working day may be a protective factor.

Conclusion: Chinese nurses are at high risk for latex sensitization. Nurses who develop latex-related symptoms after exposure to latex gloves should undergo screening tests for latex allergy. Low-protein, powder-free natural rubber latex gloves, or latex-free gloves should be widely adopted in China, along with other preventive measures.

Keywords:

• Latex allergy
• Nurse
• Risk factor
• Prevalence

The authors wish to thank the following participants for distributing and collecting the questionnaires during the study: Hua-Zhen Wang (Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College), Hui-Fang Wu (Zhanjiang Center People’s Hospital), Xiu-Lian Mao (Guangdong Agriculture and Reclamation Central Hospital), Wu-Xing Huang (Zhanjiang Second People’s Hospital), Dong-Ming Shi (Dongguan People’s Hospital), Lie-E Li (Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital), Li-Min He (Shenzhen Baoan People’s Hospital), Yan Ji (Shenzhen Xixiang People’s Hospital), Yi Liang (Guangzhou Zengcheng Maternal and Child Health Hospital), Li Huang (Zengcheng Xintang and Shapu Hospital), Jian-Ying Ye (Dongguan Humen Community Service Center), Qing-Yuan Liu (Dongguan Humen Chinese Medicine Hospital), Qiu-Guang Zheng (Dongguan Changping Hospital), Li-Li Mao (Guangxi Provincial People’s Hospital), Gui-Yuan Wei (Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical College), Wen-Ying Li (Youjiang District People’s Hospital), Xiao-Ming Zheng (Shiyan Taihe Hospital of Hubei Province), Chen He (Hubei Chibi People’s Hospital), Jiao Pei (Hubei Songzi People’s Hospital), Yuan-Yuan Chen (Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province), Qi-Feng Yi (Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University), Can Ma (Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University), Gan-Hong Mei (Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University), Gen-Yu Xiong (First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University), Rui Zhao (Pingdingshan Second People’s Hospital), Bei-Bei Yu (Pingdingshan Coal General hospital), Yong-Bo Wang (First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University), Jing-Ping Hu (Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University), Xi-Min Chen (Baoding First and Second Hospitals, and Shunping People’s Hospital), Hui-Jun Zhang (First, Second and Third Affiliated Hospitals of Liaoning Medical College), and Ya-Rong Sui (Tieling Center Hospital). This work was supported by Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province, China (grant no. 2010B080701054).

Disclosure

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.