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At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Surveillance of occupational illness through a national poison control center: an approach to reach small-scale enterprises?

A pilot study was performed in order to evaluate the usefulness of the Swiss Toxicological Information Center (STIC) in detecting cases of occupational illness. One hundred and fifty-two symptomatic occupational exposure cases were collected, comprising 3.2% of 4830 cases reported to the STIC between 1 April 1992 and 15 August 1992. In 114 cases a follow-up could be performed by a structured telephone interview. On the basis of these interview data it was estimated that 72% of the cases in small enterprises were reported to the STIC without additional notification to an occupational insurance fund. By contrast, only 28% of the occupational illness cases that occurred in companies employing more than 15 workers were not reported to an occupational insurance fund. This discrepancy could have resulted in part from the fact that occupational insurance in Switzerland is mandatory only for salaried employees, not for self-supporting persons. It is concluded that the monitoring of the occurrence of occupational illnesses in small-scale enterprises must be improved. Poison control centers could play a major role in this respect.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Use of clinical toxicology resources by emergency physicians and its impact on poison control centers.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The need for clinical toxicology resources by emergency physicians is unclear and may have implications for future training and resource availability. This study was designed to assess current emergency physician use of available resources. DESIGN: Prospective evaluation by mail using a 49-item questionnaire. TYPE OF PARTICIPANTS: All 170 emergency physicians in Utah. INTERVENTIONS: None. RESULTS: The response rate was 75.3% (128 of 170). Resources "outside their own fund of knowledge" were consulted "occasionally" to "frequently" by 98.3%. They used the following resources "occasionally" to "frequently": poison control center (PCC) (93.7%), toxicology textbook (77.6%), "expert colleague" (34.0%), and "in-house POISINDEX" (23.9%). They often contacted the PCC for toxicity information (93.7%) and management recommendations (87.3%) and for acute, symptomatic overdose cases (88.3%). They "almost never" contacted the PCC for adverse drug reactions (76.6%), pill identification (70.2%), consultation with physician toxicologist (68.1%), asymptomatic exposures (62.9%), chronic toxicity (50.4%), or solely to report the case to the American Association of Poison Control Centers data base (90.2%). Those who had access to in-house POISINDEX often did not consult the PCC (82.6%). Of those who did not have in-house POISINDEX, 42.8% contacted the PCC to access it. Providing access to physician toxicologist consultations was thought to be an important role for the PCC by 86.7%, but only 32% of physicians were using this option. CONCLUSION: The vast majority of emergency physicians in Utah consult the PCC only for acute, symptomatic overdoses. They view access to physician toxicologist consultation as an important role for the PCC but seldom use it. The availability of in-house POISINDEX decreases the likelihood of PCC consultations from emergency departments. The frequency of emergency physician consultation with the PCC may decrease as POISINDEX becomes available at more hospitals.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Toxicity of polysaccharide--iron complex exposures reported to poison control centers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the toxicity of polysaccharide-iron complex (PIC) exposures reported to poison centers in the US. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of potentially toxic exposures to PIC without concomitant substances reported to the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) Toxic Exposure Surveillance System from 1990 to 1998 was performed. RESULTS: Of 810 potentially toxic exposures to PIC, 55.9% occurred in females, 43.8% in males; in 0.3%, gender was unknown. The majority of exposures (74.4%) involved children under six years of age. The reasons for exposure were: 86.7% unintentional, 11.6% intentional, and 1.6% adverse reaction. The most frequently reported clinical effects attributed to PIC were vomiting (n = 23), diarrhea (10), nausea (11), abdominal pain (10), and lethargy/drowsiness (7). While the majority of exposures were managed outside a healthcare facility, management site varied depending on age (management in non-healthcare facility in 71.8% of exposures in children under six years of age vs. 44.9% in adolescents and adults). The majority of outcomes (95.6%) were no effect, minor effect, unrelated effect, not followed since nontoxic, or not followed since only minimal toxicity possible. Of two cases coded as moderate effect, it could not be determined whether the symptoms were related to PIC in one, and in the second case inspection of the poison center record revealed that the actual outcome was minor effect. There were no major effects or deaths. CONCLUSIONS: There were no serious adverse events following PIC exposure reported to the AAPCC. Although more data are needed, these findings suggest reduced toxicity for PIC relative to other forms of iron.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Celecoxib exposures reported to Texas poison control centers from 1999 to 2004.

Concerns have been raised about the safety of celecoxib. This study described the pattern of exposures involving only celecoxib (isolated exposures) reported to Texas poison control centers from 1999 to 2004. The mean dose was 701 mg. The patient age distribution was < or = 5 years (48%), 6-19 years (8%), and > or = 20 years (44%). In 78% of cases, exposure was unintentional. Of the exposures, 74% were managed outside of health care facilities. The final medical outcome was classified as no effect for 82% of the cases, and minor effects for 12% of the cases. Adverse clinical effects were listed for 5% of the patients, the most frequently reported being rash (3%), drowsiness (3%), pruritus (2%), and vomiting (2%). The most frequently listed treatment was decontamination by dilution (43%) or food (32%). The majority of isolated celecoxib exposures could be managed outside of health care facilities, and the outcome was generally favorable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Self-reported therapeutic errors to a poison control center.

BACKGROUND: The techniques for avoiding medication errors in healthcare settings can be extrapolated to improving pharmaceutical care and medication safety in the patient's home. Understanding patient self-dosing errors in self dosing is important in the development of prevention strategies. OBJECTIVE: To examine cases of therapeutic errors in patient self dosing as reported to the Oklahoma Poison Control Center, with the goal of proposing prevention strategies and education. METHODS: A retrospective study of self-dosing errors was performed examining root cause, patient age, and pharmaceutical agent. RESULTS: Patient self-dosing errors accounted for 8.75% of all poison control exposures as compiled by the Oklahoma Poison Control Center in 2001. The most common reasons for therapeutic errors in all age groups involved taking or giving the wrong formulation or concentration, inadvertently taking/giving medication twice and another incorrect dose. CONCLUSION: Patient education is the key to preventing therapeutic errors in the home.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

Poisoning deaths not reported to the regional poison control center.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to characterize poisoning deaths in Rhode Island and to determine the incidence of poisoning deaths that are not reported to the regional poison center. DESIGN: The records of the state medical examiner were reviewed retrospectively for all toxin-related deaths from January 1986 through December 1989, and those deaths were compared with deaths recorded by the poison center during the same period. PARTICIPANTS: All patients whose deaths were due to a toxic substance and were recorded by either the state medical examiner's office or the regional poison center during the four-year study period. INTERVENTIONS: Age, sex, location of death, cause of death (both primary and secondary toxins were noted), manner of death (accidental, suicide, undetermined), and the circumstances surrounding the death were recorded for each victim. Medical examiner and poison center cases were matched and compared using a computerized data base program. RESULTS: During the study period, 369 deaths reported to the medical examiner were attributed to poisoning, while 45 poisoning deaths were recorded by the poison center. Of the deaths reported to the medical examiner, the most common reasons for lack of reporting to the poison center were that death occurred at a residence or patients were dead on arrival at the hospital and a toxin was not suspected until an autopsy was performed. Seventy-nine other poisoning victims arrived at the hospital alive with a suspected toxic exposure and hypothetically could have been reported to the poison center but were not. CONCLUSION: The medical examiner's office represents a significant source of statistics regarding poisoning deaths, the majority of toxic deaths not reported to the poison center are dead on arrival, and using deaths as the dependent measure, the poison center may be underutilized in severe poisoning cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Drug overdose during pregnancy: an overview from a metropolitan poison control center.

Suicide attempts during pregnancy usually present as intentional drug overdoses after interpersonal conflicts. During a recent four-year period, 119 (0.07%) of all 179,893 telephone inquiries at a metropolitan poison control center involved drug overdoses by 111 pregnant women. This was usually the first such attempt and telephone notification occurred primarily within the first hour. The ingested substance was known in 109 (98%) cases and consisted mostly of an excess of a single drug. The 50 different types of over-the-counter and prescription medications consisted primarily of analgesics (most notably acetaminophen), vitamins or iron, sedatives, antibiotics, and antihistamines or decongestants. No maternal deaths were reported. Signs or symptoms were nonexistent or mild in 61 (55%) women, and major or life-threatening in 50 (45%) women. Compliance with recommendations given by telephone and referral to the primary physician or emergency room was good, especially when major symptoms or life-threatening illnesses were apparent. Close emotional support and a search for depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period are recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Acute ethylene chlorohydrin poisoning: experience of a poison control center.

BACKGROUND: Ethylene chlorohydrin (CAS 107-07-3), a chemical once used in hastening grape vine sprouting in Taiwan, has caused severe toxicity upon acute exposure. Although such use of ethylene chlorohydrin is now prohibited in Taiwan, poisoning still occurs following its illegal use. Since data concerning human ethylene chlorohydrin poisoning remain rare, we report our experience in treating acute ethylene chlorohydrin-poisoned patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted to evaluate patients with ethylene chlorohydrin poisoning reported to Taiwan Poison Control Center during 1985-1998. RESULTS: Seventeen patients with ethylene chlorohydrin poisoning were identified. There were 11 male and 6 female patients, ranging in age from 2 to 70 years (median 53 years). The intent of exposure was suicide in 5, accident in 9, and occupational exposure in 3 patients. Oral ingestion was the most common route of exposure (14 patients). Seven out of the 17 patients died within 24 hours due to metabolic acidosis and respiratory failure. Ethanol therapy, used in 2 patients, had no apparent benefit. Moderate or mild poisoning was characterized by gastrointestinal effects only and an uneventful recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Ethylene chlorohydrin can result in severe metabolic acidosis, respiratory failure, coma, and death after acute exposure.

Accidents↗