Clinical features of seven patients poisoned with a tolfenpyrad-based insecticide in Thailand.

INTRODUCTION: Tolfenpyrad, a novel insecticide originating from Japan and first approved in 2002, has been marketed in numerous countries. Data on tolfenpyrad exposure in humans are limited. This study aimed to characterize the clinical features and outcomes of acute poisoning from tolfenpyrad-based insecticides in Thailand. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed cases of tolfenpyrad exposure reported to the Ramathibodi Poison Center from 2012 to 2022. RESULTS: A total of seven patients were identified, with the majority being male (n = 5). Deliberate tolfenpyrad exposure accounted for three cases. The median age was 33 (range 1-46) years. Severe systemic effects were evident at presentation in the four patients ingesting tolfenpyrad. These included altered mental status (n = 4), mydriasis (n = 2), cardiac arrest (n = 1), hypotension (n = 4), bradycardia (n = 2), and high anion gap metabolic acidosis (n = 4). The median time from exposure to hospital presentation was 30 (range 15-60) minutes. All four patients ingesting tolfenpyrad died, whereas the three patients exposed via inhalation and dermally developed only mild clinical effects, and all were discharged following supportive care. DISCUSSION: We observed many of the clinical features reported previously, including vomiting, mydriasis, altered mental status, metabolic acidosis, and hypotension. We also noted a combination of bradycardia and hypotension while not observing respiratory depression. CONCLUSIONS: Tolfenpyrad insecticide poisoning has been reported infrequently. Rapid systemic toxicity can follow ingestion, resulting in a high mortality. Larger-scale studies are essential to identify predictors of severity and determine the optimal treatment for tolfenpyrad-poisoned patients.

A 10-Year Retrospective Analysis of Medication Errors among Adult Patients: Characteristics and Outcomes.

Medication errors (MEs) are a global health problem. We conducted this study to clarify the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and factors associated with MEs that caused harm to adult patients (>15 years of age) who were managed in hospitals or healthcare facilities. We performed a 10-year retrospective study (2011-2020) by analyzing data from the Ramathibodi Poison Center (RPC) database (RPC Toxic Exposure Surveillance System). There were a total of 112 patients included in this study. Most were women (59.8%) and had underlying diseases (53.6%). The mean patient age was 50.5 years. Most MEs occurred during the afternoon shift (51.8%) and in the outpatient department (65.2%). The most common type of ME was a dose error (40.2%). Local anesthetic was the most common class of ME-related drug. Five patients died due to MEs. We analyzed the factors associated with MEs that caused patient harm, including death (categories E-I). The presence of underlying diseases was the single factor that was statistically significantly different between groups. Clinical characteristics showed no significant difference between patients aged 15-65 years and those aged >65 years. In conclusion, our findings emphasized that MEs can cause harm and even death in some adult patients. Local anesthetics were the most commonly involved in MEs. Having an underlying disease might contribute to severe consequences from MEs. Preventive measures and safety systems must be highlighted and applied to prevent or minimize the occurrence of MEs.

Characteristics and Consequences of Medication Errors in Pediatric Patients Reported to Ramathibodi Poison Center: A 10-Year Retrospective Study.

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of, consequences of, and factors associated with medication errors (MEs) that cause harm to pediatric patients (<15 years of age) treated in the hospital setting. Patients and Methods: We performed a 10-year retrospective study (January 2011-December 2020) by analyzing data from the Ramathibodi Poison Center. MEs were classified into categories A to I according to the severity of the outcome. Results: In total, 121 patients were included in the study. Most (51.24%) patients were male. Their median age was 1 year (range, 1 hour-14 years). Infants, newborns, and toddlers were the three most common age groups in which MEs were reported. Most MEs occurred during the afternoon shift [n = 60 (49.59%)] and in the inpatient department (66.12%). The most common type of MEs was a dose error (64.46%). Antibiotics, sedative agents, and bronchodilators were the three most common classes of ME drugs. Four patients died. Three deaths occurred because of a dose error. One patient was a 1-year-old girl who received an iatrogenic intravenous phenytoin overdose of 10 times the normal dose, resulting in a phenytoin level of 72.4 mcg/mL. She died 22 hours after the ME occurred. The work shift was the only factor that significantly differed between patients with category C and D MEs and those with category E to I MEs. Conclusion: Small children were at highest risk for MEs. MEs induced harm and deaths in some patients. A preventive and safety system, including appropriate shift work administration, should be emphasized and implemented to prevent and/or decrease the occurrence of MEs.