title: The storage of tetanus vaccine in accident and emergency departments: a postal survey.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the quality of storage of tetanus vaccine in accident and emergency (A&E) departments and also of the awareness of Department of Health guidelines. A postal questionnaire was sent to 50 randomly selected major A&E departments in the British Isles, enquiring about awareness of Department of Health guidelines (Department of Health, 1990). Forty (80%) A&E departments responded. Only 14 were aware of the Department of Health guidelines and in only 18 was there a member of staff taking responsibility for vaccine storage. The study found that safe storage of vaccine, and therefore guarantee of efficacy, is not occurring in the majority of A&E departments. Unnoticed failure of refrigerators could be exposing patients to the risk of tetanus infection.
authors.affiliation: Accident and Emergency Department, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Kirby
mesh_terms: D004356:Drug Storage; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012034:Refrigeration; D012307:Risk Factors; D013742:Tetanus / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000009:adverse effects; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D013745:Tetanus Toxoid