The Use of Latex Powdered Gloves in Health Care and Skin Problems on the Hands: A Pilot Study in Croatian Hospitals

Abstract

Abstract Background The prevalence of latex allergy in the population of healthcare workers is higher than in the general population. In the last decade, the use of powder gloves has been reduced or banned due to the risk of developing adverse effects and diseases to individuals exposed to them. Latex gloves are used on a daily basis in Croatian hospitals. Powdered latex gloves are still in everyday use in Croatia. Objectives The aim of this cross-sectional study was to do screening among healthcare professionals for hand diseases after wearing gloves, and to test a positive correlation between symptoms on the hands and work in the hospital. Subjects and methods The data were collected by the self-assessment questionnaire The Latex Allergy Screening Questionnaire. The participants were healthcare workers who regularly use latex gloves in hospitals. Results The study included 455 healthcare workers: 361 nurses, 71 physicians, and 23 other healthcare workers. The most often symptoms of dermatitis occur in workers who use gloves for more than three hours a day, with the highest frequency in the group wearing gloves between 3 and 5 hours a day. Contact dermatitis develops more significantly in the participants who wear gloves more than 5 hours a day (P=0.001). Of all participants, after latex glove use, 45.05% had various symptoms on the skin of the hand related to gloves use and 18% reported contact urticaria after contact with latex gloves. Most of them (89.8%) who suffered from various symptoms related to gloves, did not have any symptoms when they were on holiday or sick leave. Conclusion Nearly half of the participants have some problems with the skin after wearing latex gloves. Most participants have had those symptoms withdrawn when they took a sick leave or a vacation. The ban on powdered gloves should be considered as a preventive measure.