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Background: Laboratory animal allergy (LAA) is frequent in exposed workers despite working conditions and exposure to these allergens having improved over the last decade. The aim of this study was to assess LAA in students and workers in a research facility within the framework of a prevention programme., Subjects and Methods: Students and researchers working with laboratory animals underwent medical surveillance every year from 2001 to 2012. They filled in a standardized questionnaire for the assessment of allergic respiratory symptoms and exposure conditions. Skin prick tests with common allergens, latex and hair extract from laboratory animals were performed at the first control and after three years of exposure., Results: 198 women and 120 men with a mean age of 29.1 +/- 7.3 years and a work seniority of 3.1 +/- 6.5 years participated in the study. Sensitization to laboratory animals ranged between 11.8 and 14.8% according to work seniority. Sixteen subjects (5%) reported asthma and 25 (7.9%) rhinitis when working with laboratory animals. LAA was associated with the female gender (OR 3.1; IC 95% 2.3-5.8), with atopy by prick test (OR 7.0; IC 95% 2.9-16.9), and with sensitization to laboratory animals (OR 2.7; IC 95% 1.1-6.7)., Conclusion: This study revealed a low level of sensitization and symptoms of allergy to laboratory animals as a result of the preventive measures adopted to reduce exposure, but there is nonetheless a need to improve prevention so as to completely avoid the onset of LAA in students and workers.

Background: We have performed a transversal study in different Italian Regions to underline the problem related to natural latex allergy., Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the glove use on the basis of the materials gloves were made of, to identify the departments and the qualifications mainly interested in the latex allergy problem, to check the required features for gloves and other rubber devices at the moment of the purchase, as well as the presence of guidelines, of training and information activities for health care workers and procedures for sensitized patients., Methods: We sent a questionnaire to the local public Health Authorities (HA) in different Italian Regions., Results: Number and regional distribution of the answers received back did not have statistical significance. Anyway, from the elaboration of the data it has been possible to obtain some interesting observations on both a theoretical and an operational level. The results showed: a) the level of interest and attention to the latex allergy problem has increased a lot recently; b) there is a high use of latex gloves (>50% of HA), in particular in surgical and intensive care departments; c) there are differences on an operational level between HA, also between HA that are in the same Italian Region. It resulted a widespread delay in the replacement of latex devices (e.g. urinary and intravenous catheters) with devices made of alternative materials. However, we found a growing attention towards the procedures related to the purchase of gloves, towards the adoption of guidelines about the use of gloves and towards the training and the information of health care workers., Conclusions: From this study it has emerged clear the need of Italian HA to focus on the prevention of latex allergy, goal already obtained in a few, almost isolated, realities.

Background: Natural rubber latex is a recognized allergen and health care workers have an increased risk of sensitisation and allergic symptoms to latex., Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate prevalence and incidence of latex sensitisation and symptoms in health care workers., Methods: We analyzed the reported data from the scientific literature and from the follow-up study in health care workers in Trieste Hospitals carrying on since 1999., Results: Latex allergy and sensitisation are significantly higher in health care workers respect to the general population with symptoms, such as urticaria, rhinoconjunctivis and asthma, ranging between 4 and 5.6%. Latex sensitisation evaluated by skin prick test is ranging between 6 to 7.8%. All studies done demonstrated the reduction of symptoms and incidence sensitisations after the changeover to a powder- free environment and the avoidance of unnecessary glove use., Conclusions: Health care workers have an increased risk of sensitisation and allergic symptoms to latex but the use of un-powdered latex gloves by all workers and use of non-latex gloves by sensitized subjects can reduce symptoms and prevent new sensitisation. Nevetheless the use of no-latex gloves when avaiable has to be the best choice from the preventive point of view.