Linee guida nazionali ed internazionali sull'allergia a latice: revisione e confronto.

BACKGROUND: Latex allergy is an important medical issue, particularly for some occupationally exposed categories (healthcare personnel). The increase in the number of cases reported, occurred as a consequence of the diffusion of latex use, prompted several scientific and institutional organisms, both on a local and international level, to create guidelines for risk management in healthcare environment. OBJECTIVES: To review and compare, more than ten years after the first official guidelines, the directives on latex allergy currently used in different countries and in the Italian regions. METHODS: We used the references contained in the relevant literature and in the regulations concerning prevention of latex allergy. RESULTS: Epidemiologic data, together with the recent decrease of the number of papers on latex allergy, suggest a relevant, but still unsatisfactory reduction of the problem. CONCLUSIONS: In the light of a recent study performed by National Health Service (NHS) in UK, we point out the need for a critical evaluation of the real application of the existing guidelines, which are often formally present but left unattended in the daily hospital practice.