1 Four nurses working in endoscopy units complained of respiratory symptoms on exposure to alkaline glutaraldehyde used as a disinfectant for fibre-optic endoscopes.
2 A provocation test was positive in two of these patients.
3 This is the first report to use provocation testing to confirm a relation between exposure to alkaline glutaraldehyde and respiratory disease.
References
1.
Axon, A.T.R., Banks, J., Cockel, R., Deverill, C.E.A. & Newmann, C. (1981). Disinfection in upper-digestive-tract endoscopy in Britain. Lancet, i, 1093-1094.
2.
Belani, K.G. & Priedkalns, J. (1977). An epidemic of pseudomembranous laryngotracheitis. Anesthesiology, 47, 530-531.
3.
Britton, M.G., Empey, D.W., John, G.C., McDonnell, K.A. & Hughes, D.T.D. (1978). Histamine challenge and anterior nasal rhinometry: their use in the assessment of pseudoephedrine and triprolidine as nasal decongestants in subjects with hayfever. Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol., 6, 51-58.
4.
Gorman, S.P., Scott, E.M. & Russell, A.D. (1980). A review. Antimicrobial activity, uses and mechanism of action of glutaraldehyde. J. Appl. Bacteriol., 48, 161-190.
