Contacteczeem door operatiehandschoenen

– All surgeons, gynaecologists and urologists practising in The Netherlands, 1878 in all, were sent a questionnaire on incidence of allergy to surgical gloves, to which 64.0 responded. Contact allergy to surgical gloves was reported by 114 specialists (9.5). In 51.4 these allergies manifested themselves within five years after the start of the specialist training. Also 93 specialists (8.6) reported contact allergies to other materials (mostly nickel, preoperatively used soaps and iodine).

It is concluded from the large number of allergies to latex gloves that these gloves should only be worn for surgical procedures. For other medical activities, such as vaginal and rectal palpation, changing dressings, etc., vinyl gloves are to be preferred.