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Antidote stocking in British Columbia hospitals
Sean K Gorman1, Peter J Zed, Roy A Purssell
1CSU Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
CJEM
|July 31, 2007
Summary
British Columbia hospitals lack adequate antidote supplies, with most facilities stocking fewer than half of essential medications. Improved provincial guidelines and purchasing coordination are needed to address these critical shortages.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Health Services Research
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Previous research indicates insufficient antidote stocking in Canadian and US healthcare facilities.
- Antidote availability is crucial for managing poisoning and overdose emergencies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the adequacy of antidote stocking in British Columbia (BC) hospitals.
- To evaluate BC hospital pharmacy directors' perceptions of antidote availability against current guidelines.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to pharmacy directors at 93 BC acute care facilities.
- The availability of 14 essential antidotes was assessed and classified.
- Hospitals were categorized by size, teaching status, trauma designation, location, and isolation.
Main Results:
- 75 (81%) hospitals responded; none stocked all 14 antidotes adequately.
- Urban, teaching, and trauma-designated hospitals reported significantly better antidote stocks than their counterparts.
- Sodium bicarbonate, N-acetylcysteine, ethanol, and naloxone were the most commonly stocked antidotes, while digoxin immune Fab fragments and glucagon were least available.
Conclusions:
- BC hospitals demonstrate inadequate stocking of essential antidotes.
- There is a clear need for provincial stocking guidelines and coordinated purchasing strategies to ensure adequate antidote availability across BC.
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