What action should you take if you suspect a patient has a latex allergy during care?

• A. Continue with latex products
• B. Ignore the allergy
• C. Remove all PPE
• D. Switch to latex-free products, tag the patient accordingly, and inform the care team

Answer: (D)

When a latex allergy is suspected, the priority is to prevent exposure and keep the patient safe. The best action is to switch to latex-free products, tag the patient accordingly, and inform the care team. Using non-latex gloves and latex-free equipment minimizes the risk of an allergic reaction, which can be serious. Tagging the patient creates a clear alert in the chart and on their record, guiding all providers to avoid latex. Informing the team ensures everyone involved in care is aware and can verify that latex-free options are used for procedures and supplies. Continuing with latex, ignoring the allergy, or removing PPE would unnecessarily put the patient and staff at risk.