CASE REPORT
Severe facial reaction to thiurams in surgeons
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University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” Rome, Italy (Department of Occupational Medicine)
Online publication date: 2018-12-17
Corresponding author
Luca Coppeta
University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” Department of Occupational Medicine,
Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Rome, Italy
Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2019;70(1):121-4
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ABSTRACT
Contact dermatitis is a major problem in the healthcare environment and in other sectors. Healthcare professionals may be exposed
to a large number of chemical agents, including the accelerators for rubber vulcanization process. The prevalence of allergic
contact dermatitis among operators in the sector ranges 13–30%. This paper describes the case of a 46-year-old male
cardiac surgeon affected by a severe skin reaction localized on the face in the absence of hand dermatitis, presumably resulting
from the use of a surgical patch applied to the face. Patch tests were performed and the result was negative for latex and positive (+++)
for thiuram mix. A thiuram-free tape was prescribed and the operator’s dermatitis improved significantly. Thus, it would be
very important to pay attention to skin disorders in health workers and thiuram as an occupational allergen. Med Pr. 2019;70(1):121–4