Abstract
Latex allergy has become increasingly common amongst health care workers. The prevalence of latex allergy in 102 theatre personnel at Princess Alexandra Hospital was determined by the results of a standardized questionnaire and a latex specific IgE radioallergosorbent test (RAST). Volunteers had their forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) measured at the beginning and end of their working shifts.
Only one of 102 volunteers had a positive latex specific IgE RAST and he also experienced both local and systemic symptoms with latex exposure and a deterioration in daily FEV1/FVC. The 14 volunteers using asthma medications had significantly higher incidence of operating theatre symptoms (10/14), local reactions (8/14), and atopy (14/14). There was no clinically significant daily change in FEV1 in the total population or any specific group.
The 1% (1/102) prevalence of latex allergy and sensitization in theatre staff demonstrates a much lower incidence than previously reported (12.5%1, 15.8%2).