Frequency in allergy to proteins of latex in health care workers.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate allergy prevalence to latex proteins in health care workers at the Laboratory and Surgery Room of Hospital CIMA Chihuahua.

METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS: A thorough clinical chart was recorded for all health care workers studied: hematic biometry, total IgE by ELISA method, specific IgE to latex antigen by ELISA (pharmacy CAP system), cutaneous tests with latex antigen (Aphi de México, Hevea Brasiliensis Biopal Inc. Spoken WA), through scarification, together with histamine and Evans (positive-negative control). The number included is 99 individuals. Specific IgE to latex in 4 cases was positive (4%) and in the cutaneous tests to latex, 24 cases (24%) resulted positive.

CONCLUSIONS: The study reports a prevalence of (4%) when performing the specific IgE to latex and (24%) to the cutaneous test with antigen to total latex. This data allows us to continue evaluating the personnel at risk at the hospital, with better results in the administration of Labor Medicine at this medical institution.