January 21 - 28, 2000
Poison Rx Low in South
More than 12.5 million poisonings occurred in the United States during the last decade, many requiring immediate intervention with a specific antidote. Most Alabama hospital pharmacies do not stock an adequate supply of the agents necessary to start treatment for patients, according to a survey by UAB and Children's Hospital pharmacists in the December 1999 Southern Medical Journal.
"Immediate antidote use may be delayed," because of low or no inventory of antidotes, says William King, DrPH, professor of pediatrics. Smaller hospitals were more likely to be understocked, likely due to cost considerations. An adequate supply would cost $11,092.
The authors called for new standards of practice to be adopted by hospitals to assure adequate stocking of antidotes.
Call Hank Black, Media Relations, 205-934-8938, or [email protected].
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