@article{ref1,
title="Insufficient stocking of poisoning antidotes in hospital pharmacies",
journal="JAMA journal of the American Medical Association",
year="1996",
author="Dart, Richard C. and Stark, Y. and Fulton, B. and Koziol-McLain, Jane and Lowenstein, Steven R.",
volume="276",
number="18",
pages="1508-1510",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To determine whether antidotes for poisoning and overdose are available in hospitals that provide emergency department care. DESIGN: Written survey of hospital pharmacy directors, each of whom reported the amount currently in stock of 8 different antidotes: antivenin (Crotalidae) polyvalent, cyanide kit, deferoxamine mesylate, digoxin immune Fab, ethanol, naloxone hydrochloride, pralidoxime chloride, and pyridoxine hydrochloride. PARTICIPANTS: Pharmacy directors of all hospitals with emergency departments in Colorado, Montana, and Nevada. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportions of hospitals with insufficient stocking of each antidote, defined as complete lack of the antidote or an amount inadequate to initiate treatment of 1 seriously poisoned 70-kg patient. RESULTS: Questionnaires were mailed to 137 hospital pharmacy directors and 108 (79%) responded. Only 1 (0.9%) of the 108 hospitals stocked all 8 antidotes in adequate amounts. The rate of insufficient stocking for individual antidotes ranged from 2% (for naloxone) to 98% (for digoxin immune Fab). In a multiple regression analysis, smaller hospital size and lack of a formal review of antidote stocking were independent predictors of the number of antidotes stocked insufficiently. CONCLUSIONS: Insufficient stocking of antidotes is a widespread problem in Colorado, Montana, and Nevada. Although these states are served by a certified regional poison center, potentially lifesaving antidotes are frequently not available when and where they might be needed to treat a single poisoned patient.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0098-7484",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}