[Acute accidental poisoning with hospital disinfectant. 45 cases of which 13 with fatal outcome].

Airsane HP 800 is a disinfectant widely used in hospitals as a powder to be diluted in water. It mainly contains a mixture of quaternary ammonium compounds. Forty five cases of acute accidental poisoning with this product have been reported to the Paris Poison Centre. All the victims were mentally disturbed patients: 2 were young adults hospitalized in psychiatric units and the other 43 were old people hospitalized for senile dementia. All ingested the solid preparation which was left in their room by hospital workers who did not know it was dangerous. Corrosive burns of the mouth, pharynx, oesophagus and sometimes of the respiratory tract were produced in most patients. Thirteen of them died. All were old persons. Ten had inhalation pneumonitis and died of acute respiratory distress one hour to twelve days after taking the powder. Progressive deterioration was responsible for the death of the other three between the 19th and 40th days. These severe accidental poisonings could easily be prevented by a better information of hospital workers, and by storing the disinfectant and preparing the solution beyond the reach of patients.