Effects of a preventive message in the organizational context: Occupational latex allergy in hospitals

✍ Scribed by Andrew M. Maxfield; M. Jane Lewis; Julie A. Tisdale; Sue Lachenmayr; Max Lum

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 65 KB
• Volume: 36
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0271-3586
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199909)36:1+<125::aid-ajim44>3.0.co;2-9

✦ Synopsis

BACKGROUND

Frequent exposure to the proteins in natural rubber latex can result in latex allergy. Latex allergy can exhibit as mild dermatologic irritation or as a more severe but rare allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock. Health care workers are at particularly high risk of latex allergy because of the frequency of exposure to latex products and gloves in particular. It has been estimated that 1% to 6% of the general population and about 8% to 12% of regularly exposed health care workers are sensitized to latex .

To raise awareness of this growing problem, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), published and disseminated the Alert on Preventing Allergic Reactions to Natural Rubber Latex in the Workplace [NIOSH, 1997]. The Alert cited research into the prevalence of latex allergy and used a set of case studies to illustrate the problem.