Natural rubber latex allergy in a health-care population in Wales

BACKGROUND: Type 1 natural rubber latex (NRL) allergy prevalence rates quoted vary due to the different populations studied and methodologies used for assessment and investigation of NRL allergy. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the rate of type 1 allergy to NRL in health-care workers (HCWs) in a single NHS trust in Wales. METHODS: A response rate of 3716 of 5548 (67%) of the employees was obtained with a latex allergy questionnaire administered by the occupational health departments. Type 1 NRL allergy was diagnosed by correlating clinical symptoms, skin prick testing and IgE RAST to latex in the dermatology department. RESULTS: The period prevalence (1998-2001) for type 1 clinical latex allergy in HCWs was 25 of 4439 (0.56%). Of the 25 positive HCWs, 18 (72%) were nurses. CONCLUSIONS: The low prevalence rate of type 1 NRL allergy should not lead to underestimating the importance of clinically significant NRL allergy and the risks that need to be minimized.