Healthcare Workers

There is a large amount of airborne latex throughout hospitals, mainly due to disposable gloves. Occupational asthma from Latex has been known to be a problem for some time now and many hospitals have taken steps to reduce exposure. This includes using powder free gloves (which release less latex into the air), using non latex gloves and providing latex free wards for those that have allergy. There will still be airborne latex in hospitals (despite these measures) and even in latex free wards, due to contamination from neighbouring spaces. Nevertheless occupational asthma from latex has been declining in recent years and there are only 1 or 2 cases a year reported to the SHIELD scheme for the West Midlands, UK. The true incidence will be greater than this due to under-diagnosis and under-reporting.

The processing of X-ray films may be associated with the release of various respiratory irritants, such as sulphur dioxide, glutaraldehyde (in the past), and acetic acid. By using sealed bottles of photographic reagents and introducing them into the processor using a closed system, exposure can be considerably reduced.

Biocides, cleaning agents, acrylates, anaesthetic gases, drugs, formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde can also cause occupational asthma in healthcare workers.

References

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	Nettis E, Colanardi MC, Ferrannini A, Type 1 latex allergy in healthcare workers with latex-induced contact urticaria syndrome: a follow-up study, Allergy, 2004;59:718-732,

	Leynadier F, Herman D, Vervloet D, Andre C, Specific immunotherapy with a standardized latex extract versus placebo in allergic healthcare workers, J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2000;106:585-590,

	Meredith SK, Watson JM, Citron KM, Cockcroft A, Darbyshire JH, Are healthcare workers in England and Wales at increased risk of tuberculosis?, Br Med J, 1996;313:522-525,

	Anonymous, Issues in occupational health and safety. Gluteraldehyde causes nurse's asthma, Queensland Nurse, 1995;14:20-21,

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	Waclawski ER, McAlpine LG, Thomson NC, Occupational asthma in nurses due to chlorhexidine and alcohol aerosols, Br Med J, 1989;298:929-930,

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Related pages

			Shield
			Latex

Links

	HSE (UK) Advice for Healthcare workers
Occupational asthma information for healthcare workers from the Health and Safety Executive (UK)
http://www.hse.gov.uk/asthma/healthcare.htm

	HSE - Alternatives to glutaraldehyde for endoscope sterilisation
Alternatives reviewed are other alkylating agents regarded as a medium risk for sensitisation (Peracetic acid, ortho-phthaldehyde) and oxidising agents (chlorine based or peroxygen).
http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/sectors/public/7_03_14.pdf

	Healthcare worker information on the Haz-Map Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
High risk job tasks for hospital workers
http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/hazmap_generic?tbl=TblIndustries&id=303

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