Poisonings in laboratory personnel and health care professionals.
A case report of an unresponsive chemist presenting to the emergency department is presented; in retrospect, the patient was discovered to have intentionally ingested cyanide. A review of literature regarding ingestions in laboratory and health care personnel reveals five common points encountered in these personnel: barbiturates, carbon monoxide, cyanide, azides, and methemoglobin-inducing chemicals. Key diagnostic findings, in the absence of history of exposure, are discussed for these five agents.
Binder
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Division of Emergency Medicine, Texas Tech University RAHC-El Paso 79905.
Fredrickson
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D000328:Adult; D001386:Azides / Q000506:poisoning; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000506:poisoning; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis; D003486:Cyanides / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D006281:Health Occupations; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D008708:Methemoglobinemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
D001386:Azides; D001463:Barbiturates; D003486:Cyanides