Latex Allergy Program
Purposes
A. To identify students and employees with known latex allergies or those at risk for latex allergy/reaction.
B. To provide a work environment that minimizes exposure to natural rubber latex.
Definitions
A. Latex allergy is a sensitized immune response (i.e. Become Latex Sensitive) to latex protein antigens found in natural rubber latex products.
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Clinical findings may depend on the sensitivity of the patient, the route of exposure, and the quantity of the antigen in the product:
a. Type IV (contact dermatitis, often delayed) redness, swelling, papules, itching, excema. A person may have a sensitivity to latex chemicals that manifests itself as contact dermatitis. However, when the latex product comes into contact with mucous membranes, the same individual may have an anaphylactic reaction.
b. Type I (systemic, immediate) urticaria, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma, hypertension, angioedema, bronchospasm, nausea, vomiting, shock/cardiac arrest.
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Routes of exposure to natural rubber latex products that have resulted in dermatitis and/or systemic reactions include:
- Cutaneous
- Mucous membrane
- Inhalation
- Internal tissue
- Intravenous
- Indirect contact
B. Persons at greater risk for the development of latex allergy include:
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Anyone with frequent or prolonged medical or occupational exposure:
- Spina bifida, myelodysplasia or genito-urinary birth defects
- Multiple surgeries or procedures
- Daily bladder and bowel care
- Health care workers
- Other occupational exposure
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Anyone with an allergy history especially of asthma and environmental allergies.
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Anyone with food allergies especially but not limited to bananas, avocados, kiwi fruit, chestnuts, potatoes, tomatoes, peaches, grapes, cherry, pineapple and papaya.
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Anyone with unexplained anaphylaxis during surgery or other invasive procedures.
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Anyone with irritant or contact dermatitis especially to latex chemicals in gloves.
C. Latex precautions are used for students and employees at high risk for an allergic reaction to a natural rubber latex product and include:
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Latex free alternate products in the work environment.
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If equipment cannot be removed or replacements cannot be found, cover latex portion of equipment to prevent direct contact.
Program Statement
A. If a qualified practitioner determines a student/employee is latex sensitive/allergic, they must submit in writing suggested accommodations for consideration. Student requests for accommodations should be submitted to the Counseling and Health Education office of Student Development (CSB) or Counseling and Career Services (SJU) for consideration. Suggested accommodations for employees shall be submitted to the office of Human Resources.
B. The student or employee will then need to inform each faculty/ instructor or supervisor of recommended accommodations at the initial contact and whenever the use of latex containing equipment may be involved.
C. Where appropriate, non-latex gloves will be utilized.
D. If latex gloves are needed, powder-free gloves with reduced protein content will be provided (these gloves reduce exposures to latex protein and thus reduce the risk of latex allergy).
E. Utilize the following tools to assist in implementation of this policy:
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Addendum A: Product guidelines list
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Also see the Blood borne pathogen standards (determining when to utilize personal protective equipment).
F. Student/employee will take responsibility for knowing which articles/equipment in his/her work area may contain latex/cause and adverse reaction.
G. Use appropriate work practices to reduce the chance of reactions to latex.
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When wearing gloves, do not use oil-based hand creams or lotions (which can cause glove deterioration).
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After removing latex gloves, wash hands with a mild soap and dry thoroughly.
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Practice good housekeeping: frequently clean areas and equipment contaminated with latex containing dust.
H. Learn to recognize symptoms of latex allergy.
I. CSB/SJU highly recommends wearing a medical alert bracelet/necklace. Students choosing not to wear a medical alert bracelet will be asked to sign a release of institutional responsibility.
When students/employees are in off-site facilities not covered by this policy, they will operate within the policies and procedures of the host facility, including the latex policies. In the absence or inadequacy of host facility policy, students/employees will default onto CSB/SJU policy for prudent procedure.
Sources:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health: Preventing Allergic Reactions to Natural
- Rubber Latex in the Workplace. Latex alert
- ANA Position Statement: Latex allergy
- Allina Hospital System Latex Policy Statement
- St. Cloud Hospital Latex Policy Statement
For more information:
- Center for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/latexalt.html
- Latex Allergy Resource Links: http://latexallergylinks.tripod.com
Appendix A
Latex in the Laboratory Environment
Frequently Contain Latex |
Examples of Latex-free Alternatives |
Ambu Bag (black, reusable) |
Clear, disposable ambu bags |
Balloons |
Mylar balloons |
Band-Aids |
Sterile dressing with plastic tape |
Blood pressure cuff |
Use over clothing or stockinet |
Catheters, indwelling |
Silicone Foleys |
Catheters, straight |
Plastic |
Chux (washable rubber pads) |
Disposable underpads |
Crutches – axillary, hand pads |
Cover with stockinet |
Dressing – micropore |
Tegaderm |
Elastic bandages, Ace wrap |
TEDS |
Gloves |
Latex-free |
Heparin/Saline lock |
Stop cock to inject medications |
IV tubing, injection ports |
Use latex-free tubing, cover Y-sites and do not use |
Mannequins |
Determine latex content. Consider purchase of latex-free mannequins |
Medication vials |
Remove latex stopper |
Stethoscope tubing |
Cover with cotton sheath |
Suction tubing |
Use latex-free tubing |
Syringes |
Bard syringes. The plunger on many syringes contains latex |
Tape-cloth adhesive |
Plastic, silk microfoam, durapore, transpore |
Tourniquet |
Cover with cloth |
Most elastic (i.e. contained in oxygen headbands, hose, hats) is natural rubber latex – Do not use.