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Natural Rubber Latex or NRL
is a milky sap produced by rubber trees. The rubber tree is tapped, much
like a maple tree, and then collected to make the many products that use
latex. |
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There are numerous products
that contain latex. Some examples of household products that may contain
latex are: balloons, pacifiers, rubber bands, adhesives (envelope and
stamp backings), condoms, elastic diapers, art supplies, beach toys,
balls, baby bottle nipples, chewing gum, band-aids, rubber buttons on
remote controls and calculators, eye pieces on cameras and binoculars,
bathmats, shoe soles, and tires.
Some examples of products in the
healthcare environment that may contain latex are: Gloves, dental dams,
catheters, tourniquets, elastic bandages, IV tubing injection ports,
medication vials, band-aids, bulb syringes, tapes, masks, and
stethoscopes.
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There are three different
types of latex sensitivity:
* Irritation: Irritated skin may be
dry, cracked, and crusty. It will normally clear up soon after contact
with latex is discontinued.
* Delayed Hypersensitivity (Type 4,
Allergic Contact Dermatitis): Irritation that erupts with sores or
blisters, response occurring within 6-48 hours after contact with
latex.
* Immediate Hypersensitivity (Type 1, Anaphylactic Allergic
Reaction): Can present hives and migrate beyond the point of initial
contact. Can include any of the following: itchy, watery eyes; swelling
of the throat, lips, or tongue; abdominal pain; nausea; breathlessness;
shock – Potentially life threatening.
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Latex sensitization can
occur by:
* Continued exposure and contact with latex products:
Even if you are not currently sensitive to latex, continued exposure and
contact could result in a sudden allergic sensitivity. Exposure to latex
can occur when products containing rubber come into contact with the
skin or mucous membranes such as the eyes, mouth, genitals, or
rectum.
* Breathing Airborne Latex Proteins: Which are generally
found in cornstarch powdered products, such as gloves powdered to
promote easy donning. Each time a powdered glove is used, latex proteins
attached to the molecules in the cornstarch powder are released into the
air and can remain airborne and be inhaled for up to 12
hours.
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Any individual or
professional who comes in contact with latex products.
Examples:
Spina Bifida / Multiple Surgery Patients: Sensitization may
occur from repeated and intense exposure to latex during multiple
surgeries, tests, and examinations. Health Care Professionals and
Community Care Providers, such as school, day care and camp
personnel.
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It is common for people who
are allergic to latex to develop a cross allergy to particular foods.
Some of the more common food allergies associated with latex allergy may
include:
Bananas, Avocados, and Hazelnuts. An extensive list of
cross food allergies should be available upon request from most any
allergist’s office. Medical studies that have shown a correlation
between food allergies and latex allergy suggest that an allergy to
different foods could occur at any time. A doctor should be notified if
any allergic symptoms occur after eating, such as: hives, local swelling
or itching around the mouth, or shortness of
breath.
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Contact an allergist or
dermatologist immediately to determine the cause of the irritation. It
would be best to avoid all contact with latex products until latex is
confirmed or ruled out as a cause. If gloves must be worn in the
workplace, try switching to a non-latex, powder free glove such as
NITREX®. See a list of DELTA® 's Non-Latex
Products.
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In today’s healthcare
environment, it is very important to select a glove that will minimize
current and future sensitization for both the healthcare worker and
patients. When evaluating gloves, it has been suggested that the user
consider the following:
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REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF: |
SELECT GLOVES THAT
ARE: |
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| Irritation |
Low in chemicals, Low
in endotoxin, and Powder Free, Such as our FMT-Series, PF-Series,
or any of our Powder Free, Latex free 100% NITREX® brand nitrile
exam gloves.
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| Type IV
Hypersensitivity |
Low in chemical
contact sensitizers, Powder Free, Such as our WIN-Series NITREX®
exam glove |
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| Type I
Hypersensitivity |
Powder Free and Latex
Free, Such as our NITREX® line of 100% nitrile exam
gloves. |
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that you choose should be comfortable, durable, sensitive,
cost-effective and safe. See our list of products for the glove
that’s best for
you! |
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NO! According to OSHA:
"Washing with disinfecting agents may cause deterioration of the glove
material and may encourage "wicking" or enhanced penetration of liquids
into the glove via undetected pores thereby transporting potentially
infectious materials into contact with the hand (OSHA instruction CPL
2-2.44C)
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NO. Just as your skin has
pores, so do the surfaces of different glove materials, such as vinyl,
latex, and nitrile. Of these three different glove types, vinyl is the
most porous, allowing more chance for penetration by larger molecules in
comparison with latex or nitrile. See our Viral Penetration chart
comparing vinyl, latex, and nitrile.
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Some glove materials are
more resistant to certain chemicals than others. Call us toll free at
1-800-220-1262 for specific inquiries or see our Chemical Resistance
Chart for our NITREX® brand nitrile exam glove
line.
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DELTA®
's ACG-Series, and WIN-Series have
been tested against specific chemotherapy drugs. [see NITREX®
Products]
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