Clam calamity: five concurrent cases of neurotoxic shellfish poisoning with varying presentations following ingestion of clams from Gulf of Mexico water contaminated with Karenia brevis confirmed by serum brevetoxin assays.

INTRODUCTION: Karinia brevis, a marine dinoflagellate, is the causative organism for "red-tide" on the east coast of Florida.This microbe produces brevetoxins, which bioaccumulate in filter feeding bivalve shellfish. In humans, inhalational exposure is common, while ingestion of contaminated shellfish is more rare. Ingested brevetoxin causes gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms collectively known as neurotoxic shellfish poisoning. CASE CLUSTER: A group of tourists collected clams from a beach during a red tide event. The clams were soaked in brine, microwaved, and consumed for lunch. The index patient experienced seizure-like activity postprandially prompting the cohort to present for medical attention. Five people presented to the emergency department with neurotoxic shellfish poisoning-related symptoms. All patients received supportive care only. Symptoms resolved within 24 hours. Serum brevetoxin concentrations were reported for four patients. DISCUSSION: Ingestion of brevetoxin is rare but may become more common as the frequency and severity of "red-tide" events increase. In our cluster, each person consumed a different number of clams and presented with classic and some "non-classic" symptoms. A trend toward more severe symptoms with a larger number of clams ingested was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This case cluster describes the clinical course of individuals after consumption of brevetoxin contaminated shellfish.

On-Scene Rescue Breathing Resulting in Gastric Perforation and Massive Pneumoperitoneum.

Rescue breathing performed too vigorously or by untrained individuals may cause gastric distension and perforation. A 26-year-old woman is presented who developed acute abdominal pain and distension after receiving rescue breathing following a heroin overdose. Massive pneumoperitoneum was seen on chest x-ray, and on subsequent laparotomy, a 4cm laceration was found in the lesser curvature of the stomach. Review of the literature suggests that the lesser curvature is particularly susceptible to perforation following over-distension. Emergency personnel should be aware of this rare, but serious, complication. Expansion of community and first responder naloxone use in the proper clinical setting may further diminish utilization of rescue breathing. Butterfield M , Peredy T . On-scene rescue breathing resulting in gastric perforation and massive pneumoperitoneum. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(6):682-683.

Mercury Poisoning at a Home Day Care Center - Hillsborough County, Florida, 2015.

On November 12, 2015, the Florida Poison Information Center Tampa notified the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County of a boy aged 3 years with a urine mercury level of 79 µg/L (normal <10 µg/L). The patient had been admitted to the hospital on October 9, 2015 after a 3-4 week history of anorexia, weight loss, and lethargy. In the hospital, he developed a maculopapular rash, acrodynia (painful, pink discoloration of the hands and feet), tachycardia, hypertension, weakness, sweating, excessive salivation, and altered mental status. Subsequent investigation identified the source of the mercury exposure to be a broken sphygmomanometer (blood pressure monitor) at the home day care center attended by the child.

Administrative barriers reduce emergency physician ordering of nasal and acromioclavicular joint radiographs.

The objective of this study was to determine whether administrative barriers to clinician ordering of nasal bone and acromioclavicular (AC) joint radiographs would result in a significant diminution in emergency department use of these films and in patient charges. This study involved a retrospective cohort or pre-post analysis of radiograph ordering by emergency care providers seeing adult patients with nasal area or shoulder injuries. Numbers of films ordered before and after enactment of a restrictive policy change were determined, as well as any charge reductions associated with diminished film use. For each radiograph type, there was a 1-year preintervention period, and 2 subsequent 12-month periods after the policy change. Nasal bone radiographs decreased from 166 in 1994 to 10 in 1995 and 4 in 1996 (P <.001, chi(2)). This resulted in potential annual charge savings of 33,176 dollars. AC joint radiographs decreased from 35 films in 1994 to 5 in 1995 and 8 in 1996 (P <.001, chi(2)), with potential annual charge savings of 6,578 dollars. Adoption of an interdepartmental policy that prohibits physicians from routinely ordering radiographs of limited clinical value can result in significant reduction of radiograph use. This drop in use can lead to considerable reductions in patient charges.