European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
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Review Case Reports
Sodium azide ingestion and secondary contamination risk in healthcare workers.
This study reports the follow-up of healthcare staff directly involved in managing a fatal sodium azide ingestion. Clinical staff directly involved with the case were contacted by telephone or in person. Data collected were age, sex, time in contact with the patient, time off work following the incident and whether or not this was because of physical complications of exposure. ⋯ Of these, five were men, median age was 39 years (range 22-52); four described being in close contact for greater than 60 min, three for 15-60 min and three for 5-15 min. Absence from work occurred in two cases for 1 day and several weeks, neither attributed to the physical effects of exposure. Our data do not support close contact with a sodium azide ingestion case as posing a high risk of significant postexposure complications in emergency service workers.
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Needlestick and 'sharps' injuries among those working with animals are a significant, under-reported and often ill-understood problem. Many patients present initially to Emergency Departments, where their potential to cause local and systemic infections and injury, zoonoses, allergic or anaphylactic reactions and death may be unrecognized. Increased awareness of the possibility of adverse effects and the consequences of these specific injuries is essential.
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Flank pain caused by renal colic is a common presentation to emergency departments. This paper reviews the acute clinical assessment of these patients, outlines appropriate diagnostic strategies with labwork and imaging and updates the reader on conservative treatments, suitable choices for analgesia and indications for surgical intervention. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment instituted in the Emergency Department can rapidly and effectively manage this excruciatingly painful condition.