Compliance with poison center fomepizole recommendations is suboptimal in cases of toxic alcohol poisoning

Am J Ther. 2006 Nov-Dec;13(6):485-9. doi: 10.1097/01.mjt.0000208878.53856.a5.

Abstract

We sought to examine hospital compliance with poison center antidotal alcohol dehydrogenase inhibition recommendations in cases of ethylene glycol (EG) and methanol (ME) ingestion. A 2-year analysis of all potential EG and ME ingestion cases reported to a regional poison center was conducted. Excluded from analysis were exposures without an ingestion, without a confirmatory EG or ME serum assay, or without complete medical charting. During the study period, 579 EG or ME exposures were reported to the poison center: 133 cases met study eligibility as an ingestion. Of the 133 cases, 102 (77%) had complete data and were included in the analysis. Immediate alcohol dehydrogenase inhibition was recommended by the poison center in 79 of the 102 cases. Fomepizole was recommended in 61/79 (77%); ethanol was recommended as an alternative therapeutic choice in 32/61 (52%) of these cases if fomepizole was not immediately available. Ethanol alone was recommended in 18/79 (23%). Fomepizole was eventually administered in 39/61 (64%) cases where recommended. The mean time to antidote administration was 3 times longer in cases where a choice in antidote was given [57 min (95% confidence interval, 43-70) vs. 146 min (95% confidence interval, 93-200)]. Despite its ease of administration, fomepizole is used less frequently than recommended by poison center staff. Delays to antidote administration occurred more commonly in cases where the poison center gave a choice in antidotal therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alcohol Dehydrogenase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Antidotes / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Decision Making
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Ethanol / therapeutic use
  • Ethylene Glycol / poisoning*
  • Female
  • Fomepizole
  • Guideline Adherence
  • Humans
  • Illinois
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Methanol / poisoning*
  • Middle Aged
  • Poison Control Centers / statistics & numerical data*
  • Poisoning / drug therapy*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Pyrazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Research Design
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antidotes
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Pyrazoles
  • Ethanol
  • Fomepizole
  • Alcohol Dehydrogenase
  • Ethylene Glycol
  • Methanol