INTRODUCTION: The availability of antidotes is essential and often lifesaving in management of certain poisonings. Surveys conducted in a number of countries have demonstrated inadequate availability of antidotes. Since no similar studies have been published for South Africa, it was decided to investigate the local availability of antidotes. METHODS: A questionnaire on the availability of antidotes was sent to government and private hospital pharmacies. The list of commonly required antidotes and supportive agents was compiled from WHO guidelines. RESULTS: The response rate was 94%. None of the responding hospitals stocked all of the antidotes on the list. Tertiary hospitals had the highest percentage (67%) of antidotes available. DISCUSSION: Seven antidotes were not stocked by any of the hospitals, including digoxin-specific antibody fragments, dimercaprol, calcium disodium edetate, fomepizole, intravenous pyridoxine, silibinin, and succimer. Five of these are not registered as medicines in South Africa. CONCLUSIONS: Poison information centers should work with local drug coding committees to improve availability of important antidotes.
INTRODUCTION: The availability of antidotes is essential and often lifesaving in management of certain poisonings. Surveys conducted in a number of countries have demonstrated inadequate availability of antidotes. Since no similar studies have been published for South Africa, it was decided to investigate the local availability of antidotes. METHODS: A questionnaire on the availability of antidotes was sent to government and private hospital pharmacies. The list of commonly required antidotes and supportive agents was compiled from WHO guidelines. RESULTS: The response rate was 94%. None of the responding hospitals stocked all of the antidotes on the list. Tertiary hospitals had the highest percentage (67%) of antidotes available. DISCUSSION: Seven antidotes were not stocked by any of the hospitals, including digoxin-specific antibody fragments, dimercaprol, calcium disodium edetate, fomepizole, intravenous pyridoxine, silibinin, and succimer. Five of these are not registered as medicines in South Africa. CONCLUSIONS: Poison information centers should work with local drug coding committees to improve availability of important antidotes.
Authors: Sa'ed H Zyoud; Samah W Al-Jabi; Yara I Bali; Afnan M Al-Sayed; Waleed M Sweileh; Rahmat Awang Journal: Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med Date: 2014-02-21 Impact factor: 2.953