Latex gloves

[abrenrn]

A while ago, I heard a lecture about latex allergy from a physician interested in it who had come from Duke, I believe. He had many interesting things to say about the risks to health care workers; he got his hospital to stop using latex gloves altogether.

Of course, I "caught it" after I heard his lecture - just not sure how long after. Itchy hands whenever I put the gloves on was the main problem. Stopped when I switched to vinyl.

What may be seen as a "psychologic" condition was later proven with lab work - RAST level 3 (can be 0 - 5, 5 means severe with anaphylaxis).

So, just curious about a few things and would like to hear any comments.

[donmurray]

Re cost. In the UK, vinyl gloves cost around the same as latex, it's the nitrile ones which cost more. Vinyl is less protective than latex, however, so go for the nitrile ones if the budget holder will stand for it. Hints about the probable cost of compensation to staff "injured" through management trying to save pennies on gloves can tip the balance in your favour.

[abrenrn]

Thanks for the info, DonMurray. I think I've tried that other type. Are they also "natural" - cause they make me itch too.

[karenelizabeth]

Latex gloves always made my hands itch, initially I was told it was the starch in side and the hospital I work in went over to powder free because because there was lots of problems with the powdered ones. My hands still itched a bit and I was aware that I was more at risk because I have asthma, hayfever but as the latex ones were there I lived with it.

The crunch came when I went to the delivery of 25wk twins and because they were extreemly sick I had my hands in latex gloves from 10am til 8pm practically non stop, by the time I went home my hands were red raw. I had a couple or days off and when I went back I was back in ITU one of the babies went off again and I grabbed the first pair of gloves I could (latex) didn't have them on for long but my hands were covered in wheeles and I touched my face as I took them off and waited to see if they were going to be ok (before I washed them) and ended up with the wheels on my face too.

So now I only wear laytex free and carry several pairs arround in my pocket too just so I dont get caught out again.

But it is amazing how many other things contain latex, bag and mask sets frequently do too (I now automaticly where gloves when bagging babies), babies teats and dummies, the list just goes on.

But my boss has been brill at supplying latex free gloves (and not the cheap ones either).

[HazeK]

question to those in nursing long enough to remember the pre-OSHA years:

do you remember many peers "in those days" being allergic to latex??

It seems to me that the institution of OSHA "universal precautions" has resulted in a dramatic increase in the incidence of latex allergies!

Also...must share a "pet peeve" with those who are GREAT at wearing gloves all the time (I'm rebellious): please, please don't forget handwashing!

I cannot begin to count the number of times I have seen nursing students and peers use gloves to handle a 'body fluid' situation like emptying bedpans, changing pads, etc....then they take off their gloves and walk out of the room! Argh! First, get that latex powder off your hands! Second, get those 'cooties' off, too! Please!

[abrenrn]

To previous poster:

Yes, pre-OSHA, pre-HIV, gloves were rare, latex allergies also rare. Only risk factor till then seemed to be spina bifida.

Now, epidemic in health care settings. From lecture I went to a while ago, given enough exposure, just about everyone will become allergic to latex - some will become allergic easier than others but latex itself is highly allergenic!!

Hospitals seem a bit slow in response, don't they? Not all - some are quite good. But when I go someplace that tells me to buy my own vinyl I wonder, "Do they know the law?"

Either they don't or they don't think I do.

[NurseDennie, BSN, RN]

I agree with everybody who said that, with enough exposure, pretty much everybody will develop an allergy to latex.

When I first started bedside nursing, our hospital had powdered latex gloves. That was the worst - obviously the talc was, as mentioned above, aerosolizing the latex protein. They changed to unpowdered and that was a bit better. But I've left bedside nursing and I've been away for over two years, and my sensitivity is getting less and less bothersome.

And Adrienurse, I'll bet we both have the same problem with latex. Heh heh heh (dirty larff if you're thinking what I'm thinking).

Love

Dennie