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Irritation and Contact Dermatitis from Protective Gloves
Published in Robert N. Phalen, Howard I. Maibach, Protective Gloves for Occupational Use, 2023
The prevalence of latex allergy has been high (17%) among groups at risk of occupational dermatitis, such as healthcare workers. A questionnaire was administered to 140 participants to analyze the effects of latex gloves in the workplace.3 Irritant dermatitis was found in 40.7% of cases. One hundred and twenty-one healthcare workers (81.2%) used bleach and water to clean their hands. None of the participants indicated any allergy to latex prior to the study. The risk factors of atopic dermatitis and irritant dermatitis were found. The correlation between irritant dermatitis and frequent use of bleach and water suggests that these practices should be eradicated since it plays an important role in the development of contact urticaria and anaphylactic reactions.
Migration Studies of Biodegradable Composites
Published in Arbind Prasad, Ashwani Kumar, Kishor Kumar, Biodegradable Composites for Packaging Applications, 2023
The extensive use of medical gloves and other latex medical equipment (natural rubber latex), in particular among health professionals, led to a substantial increase in acute type I illnesses of hypersensitivity. In this working group, the prevalence of latex sensitization is between 5% and 17% (Lagier et al., 1992; Turjanmaa et al., 1996). An itchy skin rash, urticaria, angioedema, rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma, and anaphylactic shock are all symptoms of latex allergy (Table 11.2). There have also been reports of fatalities (Kaczmarek et al., 1996).
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Published in Neil McManus, Safety and Health in Confined Spaces, 2018
The incidence of latex allergy in the general population is believed to be 7% (Voelker 1995). The incidence could range from 10 to 17% in health-care providers (Charous 1994). In most cases, the response is a Type IV reaction that leads primarily to skin reactions: sores, drying, cracking, hives, itching, and redness. Onset can range from hours to days. A small fraction of latex-sensitive individuals exhibit a Type I reaction that involves anaphylactic shock. Onset can occur in minutes to hours. Death can occur in extreme cases.
A critical review of the assessment of medical gloves
Published in Tribology - Materials, Surfaces & Interfaces, 2021
D. Preece, R. Lewis, M. J. Carré
The properties of gloves are dependent upon the raw manufacturing materials, manufacturing processes followed, and the chemical treatment gloves receive. Natural rubbers are commonly used, the most prominent being natural rubber latex (NRL), a substance found in the bark of Hevea trees [2]. By nature, NRL is a highly deformable elastomer, allowing easy conformation to the shape of the hand [3]. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that up to 6% of the worldwide population has a latex allergy [4]. Furthermore, the increasing incidence in NRL allergies means that alternative glove materials must be used where appropriate. Other glove materials include; nitrile (XNBR), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polychloroprene [5,6]. The most common alternative material to NRL is nitrile (XNBR), synthetically created using a copolymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene. However, the elastic loading response of XNBR means that the conformability to the hand is perceived to be inferior than that of NRL. The material properties of XNBR gloves are an issue for some, as they report it hinders their ability to carry out tasks [6,7].
Skin reactions to latex in dental professionals – first Croatian data
Published in International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 2019
Iva Japundžić, Liborija Lugović-Mihić
In view of the frequency of undesirable reactions to latex, it is very important to identify their clinical manifestations early in order to ensure their adequate prevention and treatment. This is why a number of international campaigns have been organized to raise awareness. These have contributed to the decrease in the frequency of these types of skin lesions. A recent 2015 Danish study examined the prevalence trend in sensitized subjects and in those with a clinical allergy to the natural rubber in latex (2002–2013), and included testing for latex in 8580 patients [20]. The results indicate that latex sensitization has dropped from earlier results 6.1% (2002–2005) to 1.9% (2006–2009) and then to 1.2% (2010–2013). Also, the frequency of clinical manifestations to latex allergies has dropped from 1.3% (2002–2005) to 0.5–0.6% (2006–2013), indicating a substantial drop in the number of persons sensitized to latex or clinically manifesting a latex allergy. Other research has also shown a gradual decrease in the frequency of reactions to latex (from 8.5 to 4.3%), which is explained by the use of better quality latex gloves with less allergens [21,22].
Medical textiles
Published in Textile Progress, 2020
Rubber is one of the most-extensible polymers; it is naturally produced and used in more than 400 medical devices. The sole commercial source of natural isoprene is natural rubber that is harvested from the Brazilian rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis [115]. The high molecular weight of the rubber (and the consequently very long polymer chains) leads to high performance properties including resilience, elasticity, abrasion resistance, efficient heat dispersion and impact resistance and its elastic properties/rigidity can be enhanced via the cross-linking process called vulcanization to allow use over a wider range of applications and temperatures [115]. Rubber can be combined with other fibres to create fibre-reinforced rubber composites that may be improved by appropriate combinations of fibre orientation, chemical treatment of the fibre and vulcanisation of the rubber [116] and of fibre ratio [117] to exhibit the combined behaviour of the soft, extensible and elastic rubber matrix together with stiffness from the strong fibrous reinforcement. A wide variety of fibre and filament types have been explored and employed as reinforcement in rubber, not least because of their value in tyre manufacture, and these include cellulose natural fibres, natural polymer man-made fibres such as viscose rayon and synthetic polymer fibres such as nylon and polyester (polyethylene terephthalate, PET) or, where higher performance is needed, aramid fibres such as Kevlar™, the high-performance polyester polyethylene naphthalate (PEN - Teonex®;Teijin Ltd, Tokyo, Japan and PENTEX®, Honeywell International, Inc , Virginia USA) or carbon fibre. A useful summary of combinations of reinforcement fibres, filaments and rubber is available online [118]. Whilst rubber is utilised extensively in the healthcare industry, one of the major drawbacks is IgE-mediated latex allergy caused by the presence of proteins in the latex [115].