[The evaluation of occupational contact dermatitis using the information network: the Triveneto experience].

Contact allergy surveillance networks provide information that permits a better evaluation of the role of different haptens in allergic contact dermatitis work related. The Triveneto region network is active since 1996 and comprises 12 center of dermatology and occupational medicine: all centers use a standardized protocol to perform patch test and a questionnaire to obtain information on skin diseases, atopy, occupations. All data are collected from Padua and Trieste and used to evaluate sensitization trends and occupation relevance of haptens. The Triveneto region network participates to the European Network on Contact Dermatitis. Data analysis permit to confirm the increase in sensitization in some occupational groups: construction workers has higher risk to be sensitized to chromium, hairdressers to be sensitized to p-phenilendiamine, mechanics to be sensitized to nickel, epoxy resin and mercaptobenzothiazol. Trend analysis of sensitization permit to evaluate in large scale the benefits of preventive measure and the needs for future.