Availability of Treatment Resources in Emergency Department for the Management of Acute Toxic Exposure and Poisionings in Governmental Hospitals in Dessie Town

Abstract

Introduction: Accessibility of drugs and over the counter drugs in hospitals are not enough andsuch accessibility of drugs act as preparedness of a hospital emergency departments in health facilities in controlling of emergency poisoning. Methods: Institution wide retrospective cross-sectional study design was conducted.  Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaire. Three nurses were trained about the data collection of this study and data entry was done by using SPSS version 20.0. Results- There were a sum of 520 toxic cases were get service (169 from Boru Meda Hospital and 351 from Dessie Referral Hospital). The first cause of poisoning was Organophosphate poison with the case of 140 (26.9%). From decontamination resources sodium sulphate, sorbitol, ipecac syrup, polyethylene glycol and colloids not present from both hospitals. From stabilization resources there were no colloids in both hospitals. From antidots only atropine sulphate, calcium gluconate, polyvalent antivenom and sodium bicarbonate were accessible through all time of the study period in both hospitals. Conclusion and Recommendation: - The supply of drugs and over the counter drugs in those hospitals were partially present, apart from stabilization resources. It is recommended if selected antidotes, stabilization, decontamination and elimination treatments are accessible.