Antidotes In Hospitals Research Articles

Creación de una red virtual de antídotos entre los servicios de farmacia de los hospitales de Cataluña

ObjetiveTo design a virtual antidote network between hospitals that could help to locate on-line those hospitals that stocked those antidotes with the highest difficulty in terms of availability, and ensured that the medication was loaned in case of necessity. MethodsThe application was developed by four hospital pharmacists and two clinical toxicologists with the support of a Healthcare Informatics Consultant Company. ResultsThe antidotes network in Catalonia, Spain, was launched in July 2015. It can be accessed through the platform: www.xarxaantidots.org. The application has an open area with overall information about the project and the option to ask toxicological questions of non-urgent nature. The private area is divided into four sections: 1) Antidotes: data of interest about the 15 antidotes included in the network and their recommended stock depending on the complexity of the hospital, 2) Antidote stock management: virtual formulary, 3) Loans: location of antidotes through the on-line map application Google Maps, and virtual loan request, and 4) Documentation: As of June, 2016, 40 public and private hospitals have joined the network, from all four provinces of Catalonia, which have accessed the private area 2 102 times, requested two loans of silibinin, one of hydroxocobalamin, three of antiophidic serum and three of botulism antitoxin. Thirteen toxicological consultations have been received. ConclusionsThe implementation of this network improves the communication between centers that manage poisoned patients, adapts and standardizes the stock of antidotes in hospitals, speeds up loans if necessary, and improves the quality of care for poisoned patients.

Simulation Model of Required Pre-deployed Auto-injectors and Stockpiled Antidotes against Chemical Terrorism

Introduction:Chemical terrorist attacks using nerve gas require patients with immediate administration of antidote, or otherwise they will experience abnormal neurological activity, respiratory arrest, and death. When it occurs in large stadiums at mass gatherings such as the Olympics, under normal medical care systems, preventable deaths occur due to insufficient deployment of on-site auto-injectors and stockpiled antidotes in hospitals. In Japan, the government has stockpiled antidotes in confidential warehouses and deployed auto-injectors around possible terrorist sites. When a chemical attack occurs, a stockpile of antidotes go to hospitals, auto-injectors go to the site, and firefighters and police are allowed to administer auto-injectors to patients. However, few studies are conducted on pre-deployment of auto-injectors and antidotes in chemical terrorisms. Therefore, the number of pre-deployment was examined.Method:A single chemical attack with 750 patients was assumed. Response was divided into five steps: (1) transportation of stockpiles to hospitals, (2) transportation of auto-injectors to the site, (3) on-site use of auto-injectors, (4) transportation of patients to hospitals, and (5) patient care in hospitals. Computer estimation was used for the time required for transportation for (1), (2), and (4). Desktop exercises were conducted for on-site response time, outpatient response time, and the number of beds available at hospitals for (3) and (5). The values obtained from computer estimation and desktop exercises were imported into the simulation model to measure the number of paramedics, auto-injectors required to be deployed in advance, and the amount of stockpiles required to be delivered to hospitals.Results:A minimum of 80 auto-injectors and ten paramedics were required to be pre-positioned at the scene. A minimum of 100 ampules of antidote was required immediately at the nearest hospitals.Conclusion:The pre-deployment of auto-injectors and personnel are essential to reduce the number of deaths in the event of chemical terrorisms.

Availability of Antidotes in Kuwait: A National Audit.

Effective management of poisoning requires adequate stocking of antidotes in hospitals that provide emergency care. Antidote stocking represents a major challenge to hospitals all over the world, including Kuwait. This study aimed to evaluate antidote stocking in public and private hospitals that provide emergency care in Kuwait. A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted from January to December 2018. The questionnaire was designed to assess immediate and non-immediate availability of 41 antidotes in 6 public and 13 private hospitals in Kuwait that provided emergency care. The questionnaire was provided to the pharmacy departments of these hospitals, which were asked to report the availability of antidotes and the reasons for non-availability. Descriptive statistics were used to report demographical data and independent t-test analysis was used to analyze continuous variables. All of the six public hospitals in Kuwait and eight private hospitals returned the completed questionnaires. Among the 14 hospitals surveyed, none had a complete stock of all essential antidotes. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) availability of immediate antidotes in public hospitals was 79.6% (32.6%) compared to 52.1% (44.4%) in private hospitals. Moreover, the mean (SD) availability of non-immediate antidotes was 64.5% (37.7%) in public hospitals compared to 14.7% (22.8%) in private hospitals. Public and private hospitals in Kuwait have suboptimal stocks of essential antidotes. There is an urgent need to develop expert consensus guidelines to assist hospitals to reduce costs and improve patient care by adequately stocking essential antidotes.

Antidote Availability in Saudi Arabia Hospitals in the Riyadh Province.

Inadequate antidote stocking is a global problem in hospitals. Insufficient supplies and delays in the administration of antidotes could lead to death and additional potentially negative clinical consequences. Our objective was to determine the availability of antidotes in hospitals listed on the Saudi Ministry of Health website in the Riyadh Province and to evaluate the leading poison in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted using questionnaires. The questionnaires were distributed to pharmacist directors and emergency room-treating physicians in 17 public hospitals throughout the Riyadh Province. None (0/17) of the pharmacies contained the 24 recommended essential antidotes by the expert consensus guidelines for stocking of antidotes in hospitals. Polyvalent scorpion antivenom, atropine sulphate, calcium gluconate, flumazenil and naloxone hydrochloride were stocked in 94.12% (16/17) of hospitals. 66.67% of patients presented with osmolality, and 55.56% of referral patients with opiates, barbiturates, acetaminophen and salicylate. Our findings have important implications for healthcare institutions and pharmaceutical practices. National practice guidelines are needed to assist pharmacists in selecting appropriate antidotes based on the local pattern of poisoning incidents. Therefore, further study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia needs to be completed to fully evaluate the availability of antidotes throughout the country.

A system-wide solution to antidote stocking in emergency departments: the Nova Scotia antidote program.

Inadequate stocking of essential antidotes in hospitals is an internationally documented problem. A concrete and sustainable system-wide solution for easy access to antidotes in emergency departments (EDs) was developed and implemented in Nova Scotia, Canada. Antidote stocking guidelines and a systemwide antidote management strategy were established. A standardized collection of antidotes housed in highly visible containers in provincial EDs was implemented for timely access. Antidote-specific online administration guidelines were developed. Using the poison centre for surveillance, the antidote program maintained a database of antidote utilization patterns; 11 years of data were available for analysis. 2/2 (100%) tertiary care, 9/9 (100%) regional EDs, and 21/25 (84%) community EDs in Nova Scotia stock antidote kits, for an overall compliance rate of 32/36 (89%). A total of 678 antidotes (excluding N-acetylcysteine) were used for 520 patients. The distribution of antidote use by hospital type was 99/678 (14.6%) at community hospitals, 379/678 (55.9%) at regional hospitals, and 200/678 (29.5%) at tertiary care hospitals. The five most commonly used antidotes were: naloxone 143/678 (21.1%), fomepizole 111/678 (16.4%), glucagon 94/678 (13.9%), calcium 70/678 (10.3%), and sodium bicarbonate 67/678 (9.9%). Of the 520 patients in whom antidotes were used, death occurred in 3% (15/520), major outcomes in 35% (183/520), and moderate outcomes in 39% (205/520). The Nova Scotia Antidote Program demonstrates that a solution to inadequate antidote stocking is achievable and requires a system-wide approach with ongoing maintenance and surveillance. The frequency and distribution of antidote usage documented in this program supports the need for enhancement of emergency preparedness. The poison centre and hospital pharmacies are crucial to surveillance and maintenance of this program.

ANTIDOTES;

Introduction: To assess the current status of antidotes in hospital formulary& their comparison with list of antidotes mentioned in National Essential Drug List (NEDL).Evaluation of treatments for poisoned patients and establishment of Poison Control Center (PCC).Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Different Government and Private Hospitalsof Lahore. Period: 02 months (August 2015 - September 2016). Material and Methods: Adetailed questionnaire was prepared for the collection of data. Data was illustrated as graphsand tables. Results: All antidotes mentioned in NEDL are present not in a single hospital ofLahore. Atropine (87%), Flumazenil (80%), Magnesium Sulphate (80%) were present in majorityof the hospitals. On the contrary, Penicillamine, Obidoxime and Sodium Thiosulphate wereobsolete in all hospitals. Although antidotes were not fully available in both government andprivate hospitals of Lahore but the situation is worse in case of private hospitals. Conclusion:High cost and late procurement are the reasons for Delay in treatment of poisoned patients.Not a single Poison Control Center is present in Lahore. Affirmative actions should be taken toimprove the accessibility of antidotes in hospitals. There is emergent need to establish PoisonControl Center.

English

Introduction: To assess the current status of antidotes in hospital formulary& their comparison with list of antidotes mentioned in National Essential Drug List (NEDL).Evaluation of treatments for poisoned patients and establishment of Poison Control Center (PCC).Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Different Government and Private Hospitalsof Lahore. Period: 02 months (August 2015 - September 2016). Material and Methods: Adetailed questionnaire was prepared for the collection of data. Data was illustrated as graphsand tables. Results: All antidotes mentioned in NEDL are present not in a single hospital ofLahore. Atropine (87%), Flumazenil (80%), Magnesium Sulphate (80%) were present in majorityof the hospitals. On the contrary, Penicillamine, Obidoxime and Sodium Thiosulphate wereobsolete in all hospitals. Although antidotes were not fully available in both government andprivate hospitals of Lahore but the situation is worse in case of private hospitals. Conclusion:High cost and late procurement are the reasons for Delay in treatment of poisoned patients.Not a single Poison Control Center is present in Lahore. Affirmative actions should be taken toimprove the accessibility of antidotes in hospitals. There is emergent need to establish PoisonControl Center.

Expert Consensus Guidelines for Stocking of Antidotes in Hospitals That Provide Emergency Care

We provide recommendations for stocking of antidotes used in emergency departments (EDs). An expert panel representing diverse perspectives (clinical pharmacology, medical toxicology, critical care medicine, hematology/oncology, hospital pharmacy, emergency medicine, emergency medical services, pediatric emergency medicine, pediatric critical care medicine, poison centers, hospital administration, and public health) was formed to create recommendations for antidote stocking. Using a standardized summary of the medical literature, the primary reviewer for each antidote proposed guidelines for antidote stocking to the full panel. The panel used a formal iterative process to reach their recommendation for both the quantity of antidote that should be stocked and the acceptable timeframe for its delivery. The panel recommended consideration of 45 antidotes; 44 were recommended for stocking, of which 23 should be immediately available. In most hospitals, this timeframe requires that the antidote be stocked in a location that allows immediate availability. Another 14 antidotes were recommended for availability within 1 hour of the decision to administer, allowing the antidote to be stocked in the hospital pharmacy if the hospital has a mechanism for prompt delivery of antidotes. The panel recommended that each hospital perform a formal antidote hazard vulnerability assessment to determine its specific need for antidote stocking. Antidote administration is an important part of emergency care. These expert recommendations provide a tool for hospitals that offer emergency care to provide appropriate care of poisoned patients.

National audit of antidote stocking in acute hospitals in the UK

BackgroundInadequate stocking of essential antidotes in hospitals for the treatment of poisoned patients has been reported worldwide. Joint National Poisons Information Service (NPIS)/College of Emergency Medicine (CEM) guidelines for antidote...

Expert Consensus Guidelines for Stocking of Antidotes in Hospitals That Provide Emergency Care

We developed recommendations for antidote stocking at hospitals that provide emergency care. An expert panel representing diverse perspectives (clinical pharmacology, clinical toxicology, critical care medicine, clinical pharmacy, emergency medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, poison centers, pulmonary medicine, and hospital accreditation) was formed to create recommendations for antidote stocking. Using a standardized summary of the medical literature, the primary reviewer for each antidote proposed guidelines for antidote stocking to the full panel. The panel used a formal iterative process to reach their recommendation for the quantity of an antidote that should be stocked and the acceptable period for delivery of each antidote. The panel recommended consideration of 24 antidotes for stocking. The panel recommended that 12 of the antidotes be available for immediate administration on patient arrival. In most hospitals, this period requires that the antidote be stocked in the emergency department. Another 9 antidotes were recommended for availability within 1 hour of the decision to administer, allowing the antidote to be stocked in the hospital pharmacy if the hospital has a mechanism for prompt delivery of antidotes. The panel identified additional antidotes that should be stocked by the hospital but are not usually needed within the first hour of treatment. The panel recommended that each hospital perform a formal antidote hazard vulnerability assessment to determine the need for antidote stocking in that hospital. The antidote expert recommendations provide a tool to be used in creating practices for appropriate and adequate antidote stocking in hospitals that provide emergency care.

Combined evidence-based literature analysis and consensus guidelines for stocking of emergency antidotes in the United States

Study Objective: To develop guidelines for the stocking of antidotes at hospitals that accept emergency admissions using combined evidence-based and consensus methods. Methods: Study participants were 12 medical care providers from disciplines that are affected by insufficient stocking of emergency antidotes (clinical pharmacology, critical care, clinical pharmacy, emergency medicine, hospital pharmacy, internal medicine, managed care pharmacy, clinical toxicology, pediatrics, poison control centers, pulmonary medicine, regulatory medicine). Selection of individuals for the study panel was based on evidence of previous antidote research or perspective regarding the purchase and use of antidotes. The literature regarding each antidote was systematically amassed using pre-1966 literature files, current MEDLINE searches, the reference lists of major medical textbooks, and citations solicited from the consensus panel. Articles relevant to 4 defined core questions were included. These articles formed the basis of an evidence-based analysis performed by the principal investigator. After literature analysis, a literature summary and proposed guidelines for antidote stocking were submitted to the panel. Consensus was formed by electronic iterative presentation of alternatives to each panel member using a modified Delphi method. All panel members participated in 5 rounds of guideline analysis of 20 antidotes. Results: Of the 20 antidotes, 16 antidotes were ultimately recommended for stocking (N -acetylcysteine, atropine, Crotalid snake antivenin, calcium gluconate and chloride, cyanide antidote kit, deferoxamine, digoxin immune Fab, dimercaprol, ethanol, fomepizole, glucagon, methylene blue, naloxone, pralidoxime, physostigmine, sodium bicarbonate), 2 were not recommended for stocking (black widow antivenin, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid), and consensus could not be reached for 2 antidotes (flumazenil, physostigmine). Conclusion: These guidelines provide a tool to be used in revising or creating policies and procedures with regard to the stocking of antidotes in hospitals that accept emergency patients. [Dart RC, Goldfrank LR, Chyka PA, Lotzer D, Woolf AD, McNally J, Snodgrass WR, Olson KR, Scharman E, Geller RJ, Spyker D, Kraft M, Lipsy R. Combined evidence-based literature analysis and consensus guidelines for stocking of emergency antidotes in the United States. Ann Emerg Med. August 2000;36:126-132.]

Inadequate stocking of antidotes in Taiwan: is it a serious problem?

Insufficient hospital stock of a variety of poisoning antidotes is a worldwide problem. In an attempt to establish an antidote storage and distribution system for the response of the various poisoning accidents, we conducted a nationwide survey to characterize the current availability of selected antidotes and their anticipated need in Taiwan. A questionnaire was mailed to 834 hospitals to gather information on the availability, anticipated need, and preferred purchase policy of 20 selected antidotes. A survey on the availability of cyanide antidote in 523 cyanide-handling facilities and their neighboring hospitals was also conducted. Hospitals of different size and service levels had a statistically significant difference in response rates. Except for pyridoxine, the availability and anticipated need for antidotes also varied significantly among different hospital groups. We found that physostigmine, cyanide antidote kit, BAL, EDTA, methylene blue, Vipera Russell formosensis antivenin, and botulism antitoxin were not available in most (>90%) hospitals. Interestingly, these antidotes are also among the most needed antidotes. Most hospitals preferred a government-ordered purchase of antidotes. In the survey of cyanide-processing facilities, a response rate of 24.1% was obtained and only 9.3% of these 107 facilities that both replied to the questionnaire and continued handling cyanide products had stocked cyanide antidote. It is noteworthy that cyanide antidote was also frequently lacking in the neighboring hospitals. The appropriate storage of antidotes in hospitals or workplaces in rural areas is instrumental in the timely treatment of certain poisonings, while nationwide unavailability is the critical problem. Raising awareness of the importance of antidotes by education, regular review of antidote storage, distribution plans, and appropriate legislation might provide solutions.