Toru Hifumi1, Tomoya Okazaki1, Arisa Manabe1, Hideyuki Hamaya1, Satoshi Egawa1, Satoshi Fujimi2, Akihiko Yamamoto3, Yuichi Koido4, Yuko Abe1, Kenya Kawakita1, Kazuo Umezawa5, Yasuhiro Kuroda1. 1. Emergency Medical Center Kagawa University Hospital Kagawa Japan. 2. Departments of Emergency and Critical Care Osaka General Medical Center Osaka Japan. 3. Department of Biosafety National Institute of Infectious Disease Tokyo Japan. 4. Division of Critical Care Medicine and Trauma National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center Tokyo Japan. 5. Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine Tokai University School of Medicine Kanagawa Japan.
Abstract
Aim: Redback spiders are rapidly becoming a nationwide problem in Japan. The domestic production of antivenom for redback spider bites has been started because of extremely low supply. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of emergency physicians to recognize redback spider bites and to examine the demand for antivenom and identify the ideal choice for storage. Methods: Questionnaires examining the ability to recognize redback spider bites, the demand for antivenom, and overall level of preparedness were sent to 271 emergency medical service centers in Japan in March 2015. Results: Completed questionnaires were returned by 156 medical institutions (58%). Only 25% of the institutes correctly answered regarding the recognition of redback spider bites. A demand for the new, domestically produced antivenom was reported by 55% of the institutes. Antivenom demand was high and increased with the ability to recognize redback spider bites (0 correct answers, n = 24 [42.9%]; 1-2 answers, n = 32 [55.2%]; three answers, n = 28 [71.8%]; P = 0.02). The storage of antivenom within their prefectures or regions was the best option for initial supply planning. Approximately 90% of the emergency centers showed an ability to use the antivenom safely. Conclusion: The recognition of redback spider bites was low; however, the demand for antivenom was high. The storage of antivenom within their own prefectures or regions was considered to be the best option for initial supply planning. Emergency medical service centers are also good candidates for storage and safe use of antivenom.
Aim: Redback spiders are rapidly becoming a nationwide problem in Japan. The domestic production of antivenom for redback spider bites has been started because of extremely low supply. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of emergency physicians to recognize redback spider bites and to examine the demand for antivenom and identify the ideal choice for storage. Methods: Questionnaires examining the ability to recognize redback spider bites, the demand for antivenom, and overall level of preparedness were sent to 271 emergency medical service centers in Japan in March 2015. Results: Completed questionnaires were returned by 156 medical institutions (58%). Only 25% of the institutes correctly answered regarding the recognition of redback spider bites. A demand for the new, domestically produced antivenom was reported by 55% of the institutes. Antivenom demand was high and increased with the ability to recognize redback spider bites (0 correct answers, n = 24 [42.9%]; 1-2 answers, n = 32 [55.2%]; three answers, n = 28 [71.8%]; P = 0.02). The storage of antivenom within their prefectures or regions was the best option for initial supply planning. Approximately 90% of the emergency centers showed an ability to use the antivenom safely. Conclusion: The recognition of redback spider bites was low; however, the demand for antivenom was high. The storage of antivenom within their own prefectures or regions was considered to be the best option for initial supply planning. Emergency medical service centers are also good candidates for storage and safe use of antivenom.
Authors: David Williams; José María Gutiérrez; Robert Harrison; David A Warrell; Julian White; Kenneth D Winkel; Ponnampalam Gopalakrishnakone Journal: Lancet Date: 2010-01-02 Impact factor: 79.321