59MDWI44-110 governs care for patients and health care workers with known or suspected latex allergies and latex-safe environments.
View 59MDWI44-110 on armypubs.army.mil
It addresses workplace prevention, allergy evaluation, patient screening, procedural precautions, health care worker considerations, education, and dental facilities. It requires patient allergy screening, latex-safe practices, documentation, and education in specified settings.
Applies to: This instruction applies to all personnel assigned, attached, or on contract to the 59 MDW.
Use non-latex gloves for activities that are not likely to involve contact with infectious materials (food preparation, routine housekeeping, general maintenance, etc.). (paragraph 2)
To ensure adequate protection for employees, all chemical protective glove selections must be coordinated through Bioenvironmental Engineering. (paragraph 2)
Powdered latex products are prohibited as environmental contamination can occur when powdered latex gloves are donned and doffed. (paragraph 2)
There currently is no standardized, validated latex testing. (paragraph 3)
During initial procedural assessment, all patients will be screened by a health care provider (physician, dentist, nurse practitioner, nurse) for medication allergies to include latex allergies. (paragraph 4)