Comparison of risk factors between latex sensitised (skin prick test positive) and non-sensitised (skin prick test (APT) negative) healthcare workers at King Edward VIII Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa (n=501)
| Characteristics | Latex SPT positive† (29) N (%) | Latex SPT negative‡ (472) N (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Demographics | ||
| Age (years) | ||
| ≤30 | 1 (3.5) | 48 (10.2) |
| >30–40 | 13 (44.8) | 148 (31.4) |
| >40–50 | 8 (27.6) | 152 (32.2) |
| >50 | 7 (24.1) | 124 (26.3) |
| Duration of employment | ||
| ≤5 | 3 (10.3) | 64 (13.6) |
| >5–10 | 16 (55.2) | 151 (31.9) |
| >10–15 | 3 (10.3) | 63 (13.4) |
| >15–20 | 1 (3.5) | 43 (9.1) |
| >20 | 6 (20.7) | 151 (31.9) |
| Sex (yes) | ||
| Male | 5 (17.2) | 118 (25.0) |
| Female | 24 (82.8) | 354 (75.0) |
| Job title (yes) | ||
| Administrative | 5 (17.2) | 159 (33.7) |
| Professional nurses | 5 (17.2) | 118 (25.0) |
| Enrolled nurses | 14 (48.3) | 127 (26.9) |
| Enrolled nursing assistants | 5 (17.2) | 68 (14.4) |
| Latex exposure | ||
| Exposure status (yes) | 24 (82.8) | 313 (66.3) |
| Type of gloves | ||
| None | 5 (17.2) | 165 (34.6) |
| Exclusive powdered latex glove (yes) | 2 (6.9) | 36 (7.6) |
| Exclusive powder-free latex glove (yes)* | 11 (37.9) | 77 (16.3) |
| Mixed (yes) | 11 (37.9) | 198 (41.9) |
| Medical and personal history | ||
| Personal history of allergy disease (yes) | 16 (55.2) | 214 (45.3) |
| Family history of allergy disease (yes) | 18 (62.1) | 281 (59.5) |
| Fruit allergy (yes)* | 5 (17.2) | 33 (6.9) |
| Previous open surgery (yes) | 18 (62.1) | 211 (44.7) |
| Non-occupational latex exposure (yes) | 12 (41.4) | 225 (47.7) |
| Reaction to other latex medical devices (yes)* | 3 (10.3) | 8 (1.7) |
χ2, *p<0.05.
†Latex skin prick test positive.
‡Latex skin prick test positive and work-related clinical symptoms of allergy.