Diphoterine for emergent decontamination of skin/eye chemical splashes: 24 cases.

Chemical skin/eye splashes can cause burns. Standard references recommend decontamination with water. Diphoterine, a polyvalent, hypertonic, amphoteric, chelating solution is an alternative. Occupational medical records of 24 workers in a German metallurgy firm from 1994 to 1998 were reviewed. There were 11 acid eye splashes, 8 acid skin splashes, 4 base eye splashes, and 1 base skin splash. Following Diphoterine decontamination, no burns developed and there were no requirements for burn treatment or sequelae. Three workers had 1 lost workday each. Diphoterine decontamination successfully prevented skin/eye burns in this group of metallurgy workers.