Latex is the basis material of natural rubber products and is extracted from the sap of the rubber tree, at the end of the process, the latex contains several protein chains with antigenic activity.
Due to their specific characteristics (elasticity, shape memory, antibacterial and hypoallergenic), the latex has found a wide application with over 40,000 commonly industrial products, of these 400 are used in health area, first of all the gloves.
Health care facilities have a responsibility to prevent the allergic reactions in patients with latex allergy because this condition can affect all people throughout their lives.
There is no cure at this time for latex sensitivity, a solution to this problem is to develop a procedures: to prevent the reaction in individuals who are latex-sensitized and / or to prevent initial sensitization of non-sensitized patients.
Since it is not possible to totally eliminate latex from healthcare environments, should be make a latex-safe path where the antigen levels are so low as to rouse any reaction, this means why healthcare facilities and providers should use latex-free material and gradually developing a latex safe policies, initiatives, protocols to ensure safe treatment for these patients.
Every healthcare facilities that hold at least one operating room at their inside should have a dedicated latex free operating room or a latex-free protocol for management of patients with latex allergy to ensure their special care needs.
The regions (Lombardia and Puglia) have formulated, designed and implemented regional guidelines for the prevention of allergic reactions to latex in their health care facilities.
Taking a cue from experience of these two realities has been designed a protocol proposal of a latex-safe route to be taken in operating room in presence of latex allergy patients.
