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Latex-induced occupational asthma: time trend in incidence and relationship with hospital glove policies.

AbstractBACKGROUND:
Natural rubber latex (NRL) has become as a major cause of occupational asthma (OA) in workers using NRL gloves. Few population-based studies have assessed the impact of changes in the patterns of glove usage on the incidence of NRL-induced OA.
OBJECTIVE:
To characterize the time trends in incident cases of NRL-induced OA in Belgium and examine whether incidence rates were related to the types of gloves used in hospitals.
METHODS:
Incident cases of NRL-induced OA were identified through a retrospective review of all claims submitted to the Workers' Compensation Board up to December 2004. Based on the results of diagnostic procedures, the diagnosis of NRL-induced OA was categorized as definite, probable, unlikely, or indeterminate. The patterns of glove usage were characterized through a questionnaire survey of Belgian hospitals.
RESULTS:
A total of 298 claims for NRL-induced OA were identified, including 127 subjects with definite OA and 68 with probable OA. Categorized by the year of asthma onset, the incident cases of definite and probable NRL-induced OA markedly decreased from 1999 onwards. The use of powdered NRL gloves fell from 80.9% in 1989 to 17.9% in 2004. Powdered NRL gloves were predominantly substituted with NRL-free gloves, especially in the case of non-sterile procedures.
CONCLUSION:
These national compensation-based data confirm that a persistent decline in the incidence of NRL-induced OA has occurred since late 1990s. This downward trend has temporally been associated with a decreasing usage of powdered NRL, further supporting a beneficial role of changes in glove policies.
AuthorsO Vandenplas, A Larbanois, F Vanassche, S François, J Jamart, M Vandeweerdt, J Thimpont
JournalAllergy (Allergy) Vol. 64 Issue 3 Pg. 415-20 (Mar 2009) ISSN: 1398-9995 [Electronic] Denmark
PMID19076543 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Chemical References
  • Latex
  • Powders
Topics
  • Adult
  • Belgium
  • Female
  • Gloves, Surgical (adverse effects)
  • Humans
  • Latex (adverse effects)
  • Latex Hypersensitivity (epidemiology)
  • Male
  • Occupational Diseases (epidemiology)
  • Occupational Exposure
  • Powders (adverse effects)
  • Time
  • Workers' Compensation

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