Prevalencia y factores de riesgo de sensibilización al látex en personal del Hospital del Trabajador Santiago / Prevalence and risk factors of latex hypersensitivity in workers hospital personnel in Santiago

Los trabajadores de la salud (TS) tienen riesgo de desarrollar alergia al látex, lo que está respaldado por múltiples publicaciones. OBJETIVOS: Establecer prevalencia de sensibilización y alergia a látex en TS del Hospital del Trabajador Santiago (HTS) y determinar factores de riesgo asociados. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se estudiaron 157 TS con encuesta sobre atopia, tiempo y Los trabajadores de la salud (TS) tienen riesgo de desarrollar alergia al látex, lo que está respaldado por múltiples publicaciones. OBJETIVOS: Establecer prevalencia de sensibilización y alergia a látex en TS del Hospital del Trabajador Santiago (HTS) y determinar factores de riesgo asociados. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se estudiaron 157 TS con encuesta sobre atopia, tiempo y síntomas con exposición a látex. Se efectuaron prick test con aeroalergenos, látex y frutas (Leti, España), látex amoniacado, prick in prick con guantes de látex y test de parche con látex y aditivos (Trolab, Alemania). RESULTADOS: La sensibilización a látex fue de 13,4por ciento (n=21). Hubo diferencia significativa entre sensibilizados y no sensibilizados en: presencia de atopia (p<0,001), sensibilización a frutas (p<0,001) y presencia de urticaria de contacto (p<0,001). Tres TS de los 19 examinados presentaron test de parche positivo. CONCLUSIONES: La prevalencia de sensibilización a látex es menor a la encontrada en otro estudio nacional realizado por nuestro grupo. La atopia y la sensibilización a frutas tropicales parecen importantes factores para el desarrollo de alergia al látex en la población estudiada.

Prevalencia de sensibilización a látex en personal de pabellones quirúrgicos del Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile / Prevalence of latex hypersensitivity in operating room workers of the University of Chile Clinical Hospital

Background: Health care workers (HCW) are a high risk group for developing natural rubber latex (NRL) hypersensitivity and allergy. Some studies showed a correlation between time and frequency of exposure to NRL gloves and hypersensitivity, but a recent meta-analysis showed no clear evidences for such assumption. Aim: To determine the prevalence of NRL hypersensitivity and allergy in a group of HCW at the University of Chile Clinical Hospital. Materials and Methods: Ninety five HCW (aged 37±10 years, 59 females) were interviewed about time of exposure, atopic diseases and latex-related allergy symptoms. Different NRL extracts and seven NRL gloves brands were tested by the prick test method. Results: Twenty four workers (25%, 95% CI = 16.9%-35.2%) were sensitized. No gender differences were found. No symptomatic cases were found in the sensitized group. In the workplace, six and two non sensitized subjects had respiratory symptoms or contact urticaria, respectively. Sensitivity to bananas, avocadoes, kiwi and chestnut was not significantly more common among latex sensitive individuals. No differences between sensitized and non sensitized subjects were observed for the presence of atopic diseases or the mean number of years at the workplace. The sensitization rate to NRL increased along with years of work, from 18.6% in patients working less than 10 years, to 28.1% in the group between 10 and 20 years and to 35% in those working more than 21 years (p=0.693). Sensitization was also related to the weekly hours of exposure: 1-10 hours, 17%; 11-20 hours, 23.5%; 21-30 hours, 50% and 31-40 hours, 28.5% (p=0.036). Conclusions: Sensitization increased proportionally to the years and weekly hours wearing NLR gloves. We did not find symptomatic patients in the sensitized group.