TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1996//
TI  - Insufficient stocking of poisoning antidotes in hospital pharmacies
JO  - JAMA journal of the American Medical Association
A1  - Dart, Richard C.
A1  - Stark, Y.
A1  - Fulton, B.
A1  - Koziol-McLain, Jane
A1  - Lowenstein, Steven R.
SP  - 1508
EP  - 1510
VL  - 276
IS  - 18
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 0098-7484
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -