Occupational contact dermatitis: Health personnel

Health care personnel shows high occupational risk mainly from irritant and/or allergic contact dermatitis and less frequently contact urticaria. The spectrum of occupations involved is broad. The specialized nature of the tasks developed by some of these workers makes it somewhat difficult to relocate or substitute them. Although atopic condition and wet work increases the risk of hand eczema in health care workers, the hazard of sensitization is also very high. The agents capable of inducing contact allergy show different chemical structures including proteins and low molecular weight molecules. This chapter reviews the causes of occupational contact dermatitis and urticaria in nurses, clinical assistants and cleaners, surgeons, laboratory personnel, other therapist, veterinarians and laboratory animal handlers. Skin complaints should be assessed habitually with both Prick and Patch testing. The identification of the responsible agents is always necessary, being fundamental for developing effective preventive measures, some of which has already been demonstrated. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.