Correction to: Primary immunodeficiencies in Central and Eastern Europe-the power of networking Report on the activity of the Jeffrey Modell Foundation Centers Network in Central and Eastern Europe.

Due to authors' internal mistake they have misspelled the name of one of the co-authors in this article.

Primary immunodeficiencies in Central and Eastern Europe-the power of networking Report on the activity of the Jeffrey Modell Foundation Centers Network in Central and Eastern Europe.

Jeffrey Modell Foundation centers' network activities in Central and Eastern Europe (JMF CEE) have contributed to the development of care for patients with primary immunodeficiencies. On the data continuously collected from individual centers in participating countries since 2011, we demonstrate a steady improvement in a number of aspects concerning complex care for patients with primary immunodeficiencies. The presented data show an improvement of awareness about these rare diseases across the whole Central and Eastern European region, an increase in newly diagnosed patients as well as genetically confirmed cases, earlier establishment of diagnosis, and improved access to clinical treatment. We also present an active patient involvement that is reflected in the expansion of patient organization centers and their activities. The cooperation within the JMF CEE network has also contributed to greater international exposure of participating centers and further to the gradual development of research activities in the rapidly evolving field of primary immunodeficiencies. The improvement of all important aspects of the complex field of primary immunodeficiencies within the JMF CEE network documents the strength and advantages of the joint and coordinated networking.

Prevalence of skin test reactions to natural rubber latex in hospital personnel in Russia and eastern Europe.

BACKGROUND: Allergic reactions to natural rubber latex have increased during the past 10 years, especially in many health care workers (HCWs) who have high exposure to latex allergens. The prevalence of skin test reactions to natural rubber latex in Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and eastern Europe is unknown. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of skin test reactivity to natural rubber latex in a population of HCWs exposed to latex. METHODS: Nine hundred one HCWs regularly exposed to latex were evaluated using an allergy history questionnaire. Subjects were tested for latex allergy by titrated skin prick test with a biologically standardized latex extract. The diagnosis of latex allergy was defined by the presence of clinical symptoms when exposed to latex along with a positive skin prick test to latex. RESULTS: Forty-nine (5.4%) HCWs were skin test-positive to latex. Seventeen (1.9%) HCWs were classified as latex-allergic based upon positive skin tests to latex associated with allergy symptoms with exposure. Seven of 901 HCWs had experienced anaphylactic reactions to latex. The most frequently reported symptom related to latex exposure was contact urticaria. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of latex allergy among HCWs in Russia, the CIS, and adjacent eastern European countries is considerably less than reported in HCWs exposed to latex in western Europe and the United States. The low prevalence of latex allergy in Russia and the CIS suggests that lessened exposure to natural latex powdered gloves may diminish the prevalence of latex sensitization in HCWs in Russia and the CIS.