Self-harm by single- and multi-agent medication poisoning in a retrospective analysis of a Poison Control Center database from January 2018 to December 2022.

PURPOSE: Medication poisoning is the most common method of self-harm. Longitudinal studies incorporating pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic data are required to describe the phenomenon and to evaluate the long-term impact on mental health. METHODS: Calls to the Poison Control Center of Policlinico Umberto I Hospital - Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, were analyzed retrospectively for characteristics and clinical presentation of cases of interest from January 2018 to December 2022. RESULTS: A total of 756 cases of self-harm by medication poisonings were recorded in the study period. A reduction in rate of cases in 2020 was followed by a return to pre-pandemic levels by 2021. When separately analyzing single- and multi-agent cases, occurrence of cases involving just one medication increased since early 2021, with a peak in 2022 (7.8% of total calls, 95% CI 6.2-9.5, from 4.9%, 95% CI 4.1-5.8 in 2018). This increase in the rate of cases, mostly of none or mild severity, was driven by youth aged 12-21, in which the relative proportion of single- versus multi-agent cases showed an increasing trend since 2020 (from 42.6% in 2018 to 78.6% in 2022). Acetaminophen was the medication most frequently involved and benzodiazepines the largest class. A psychiatric background was increasingly seen in 2022, especially in age group 12-21. CONCLUSION: Single-agent medication self-harm may be an increasingly prevailing phenomenon. Young adolescents with a psychiatric background might be most vulnerable to this behavior in the COVID-19 pandemic aftermath. Healthcare professionals should expect favorable clinical outcome and improve both counseling and psychotherapy supervision in individuals at risk.

Transfer of chemicals to a secondary container, from the introduction of new labelling regulation to COVID-19 lockdown: A retrospective analysis of exposure calls to the Poison Control Centre of Rome, Italy, 2017-2020.

The transfer of a chemical product from its original container to an unlabelled secondary container by consumers is a potential health hazard that may result in unintentional exposures and intoxications. The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of prevalence of exposures to transferred products in Italy from year 2017, when the new European labelling regulation for chemicals became fully operative, to 2020, year of the coronavirus 19 disease first outbreak. Calls to the Poison Control Centre (PCC) of Policlinico Umberto I Hospital - Sapienza University of Rome were analysed retrospectively for characteristics, clinical presentation and circumstances related to the event. We registered 198 cases of interest. There was a reduction in cases from 2017 (4.9%) to 2019 (2.2%), followed by an increased prevalence in 2020 (4.2%) mainly due to the months "post-lockdown." The transferred product was very frequently diluted, and an empty drinking bottle was usually used as secondary container. Exposures were mostly of minor severity, and no deaths occurred. The study highlights the importance of PCCs data in the evaluation of the hazard communication to users through labels and advises for public campaigns to promote safe behaviours during future lockdowns to prevent exposures at a later period.

How COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy Has Affected Type of Calls and Management of Toxic Exposures: a Retrospective Analysis of a Poison Control Center Database From March 2020 to May 2020.

INTRODUCTION: Between early March 2020 and the end of May 2020, Italy issued strict measures to limit further spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and became the first European country that imposed a lockdown on the population. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of these restricted conditions on the activity of the Poison Control Center (PCC) of Policlinico Umberto I Hospital-Sapienza University of Rome. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of calls received by the PCC during the lockdown period March 9, 2020 through May 31, 2020 compared to the same time period in year 2019 (reference). RESULTS: We observed a reduction in calls from hospitals and emergency departments and an increase in calls from private citizens about exposures to products or intoxications during the lockdown. There were increases in unintentional exposures and exposures to hand and surface sanitizers among household and cleaning products. There was a decrease in calls concerning medications, which were mostly from hospitals and emergency departments. We observed increases in exposures requiring clinical observations among adults and referral to the emergency department among pre-school children. CONCLUSIONS: Public health protection measures against COVID-19 to improve hygiene and maintain clean environments can increase exposures to hazardous products in the domestic environment. We observed an increase in unintentional exposures to household and cleaning products during the lockdown and an increase in ED referrals for pre-school children compared to the previous year. Our data suggest the need for improvements in public campaigns that promote safer handling of household products and prevent unnecessary exposures during a lockdown. The public health promotion activity can benefit the community after the pandemic and prepare the community for lockdowns in the future.