A possible case of delayed hypersensitivity to ethylene oxide

Abstract

This report describes a patient with a post‐operative delayed allergic contact reaction from a re‐usable theatre lift mat which had been sterilized with excessive ethylene oxide. Positive patch tests to ethylene oxide sterilized patches and polyethylene glycol 300 were obtained. It is suggested that the allergic dermatitis could also be due to polyethylene glycol, a polymer of ethylene oxide and water.