[Creation and organization of an antivenomous serum bank in France].
For several years exotic snakes have been bred in France. In view of the increased risk of envenomation from some of these species, the Poison Centre in Angers has joined forces with several private licensed snake breeders to create an Anti-venom Serum Bank. The main objective of the new organization is to provide an effective means of dealing with bites and subsequent envenomation by exotic snakes by managing a stock of anti-venom serums in a hospital pharmacy, so that cases can be treated as quickly as possible. The hospital pharmacy has the authority to purchase and supply the anti-venom serums. The selection and purchase of the serums is done in conjunction with the French Ministry of Ecology, the French Drug Agency and specialist doctors. At the time of writing, the Antivenom Serum Bank has the capacity to treat about thirty different kinds of envenomation, compared to the 135 exotic venomous snake species officially registered. In the long term the Anti-venom Serum Bank will help eradicate the use of serums from unauthorized sources, evaluate the safety and efficacy of new serums and reduce transport times.
Darsonval
Astrid
A
CHU d'Angers, service de pharmacie, 49933 Angers cedex 9, France. asdarsonval@chu-angers.fr
Boels
David
D
Clerc
Marie-Anne
MA
De Haro
Luc
L
Penot-Ragon
Christine
C
Moal
Fréderic
F
Quistinic
Pierre
P
Lourdais
Olivier
O
Harry
Patrick
P
D000997:Antivenins; D018070:Biological Specimen Banks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005602:France
D000997:Antivenins