What is the appropriate action if a patient reports a suspected latex allergy?

• A. Proceed with latex gloves if sterile.
• B. Continue with gloves but avoid contact.
• C. Use latex-free gloves and materials and confirm latex sensitivity to prevent exposure.
• D. Ignore and proceed.

Answer: (C)

Protecting the patient from latex exposure is the key, since latex allergies can range from skin irritation to life-threatening reactions. When a patient reports a suspected latex allergy, the safest first step is to switch to latex-free gloves and materials and verify the allergy so you don’t expose them inadvertently. This means using alternatives like nitrile or vinyl gloves, avoiding latex-containing items such as tourniquets, stoppers, adhesives, and elastic devices, and reviewing all equipment and supplies for latex content. Document the allergy in the patient’s chart and alert the care team to maintain a latex-free environment for all future encounters. If there’s any uncertainty about the severity of the allergy, consult the clinician or allergy documentation to confirm sensitivity and appropriate precautions. This approach minimizes risk and ensures safe care.