Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with acute drug intoxication admitted to ICU
Background: Drug overdose continues to be the most common cause of acute poisoning worldwide. There has been a substantial increase in drug overdose incidence and prevalence over the past decade, probably as a result of the emergence of new synthetic designer drugs. The purpose of this study is to d...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Greater Baltimore Medical Center
2017-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20009666.2017.1356189 |
| _version_ | 1797968422651297792 |
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| author | Jose Orsini Nanda Din Ershad Elahi Anthony Gomez Salil Rajayer Ryan Malik Elie Jean |
| author_facet | Jose Orsini Nanda Din Ershad Elahi Anthony Gomez Salil Rajayer Ryan Malik Elie Jean |
| author_sort | Jose Orsini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Drug overdose continues to be the most common cause of acute poisoning worldwide. There has been a substantial increase in drug overdose incidence and prevalence over the past decade, probably as a result of the emergence of new synthetic designer drugs. The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with acute drug intoxication admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Methods: A single center, prospective, observational study was conducted among all adult patients with clinical signs suggestive of acute drug intoxication admitted from the Emergency Department (ED) to ICU during a 6-month period (September to March). Results: Sixty-five patients were admitted. Their median age was 49 years (mean 48.2, range 20–72), and the majority were male (48, 74%). Median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score on admission to ICU was 6 (mean 6, range 0–13). Fifty-five patients (85%) had a positive urine and/or serum toxicology screen. Most commonly detected substances were: opiates (18, 33%), cocaine (13, 24%), methadone (12, 22%), benzodiazepines (10, 18%), and marijuana (9, 16%). In 16 patients (29%), >1 substance was isolated. Twenty-three patients (35%) had negative urine toxicology screen. Ethyl alcohol was detected in the serum of 23 patients (35%). Five patients (8%) expired in ICU. Conclusion: Classic recreational drugs remain the most common substances involved in acute drug poisoning. More sensitive detection methods are warranted to identify new designer drugs of abuse such as synthetic cannabinoids. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T02:46:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7b3bbf05997140759c828f46858b8162 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2000-9666 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T02:46:39Z |
| publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
| publisher | Greater Baltimore Medical Center |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives |
| spelling | doaj.art-7b3bbf05997140759c828f46858b81622023-01-02T17:52:56ZengGreater Baltimore Medical CenterJournal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives2000-96662017-10-017420220710.1080/20009666.2017.13561891356189Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with acute drug intoxication admitted to ICUJose Orsini0Nanda Din1Ershad Elahi2Anthony Gomez3Salil Rajayer4Ryan Malik5Elie Jean6New York University School of Medicine, Woodhull Medical and Mental Health CenterNew York University School of Medicine, Woodhull Medical and Mental Health CenterNew York University School of Medicine, Woodhull Medical and Mental Health CenterNew York University School of Medicine, Woodhull Medical and Mental Health CenterNew York University School of Medicine, Woodhull Medical and Mental Health CenterNew York University School of Medicine, Woodhull Medical and Mental Health CenterNew York University School of Medicine, Woodhull Medical and Mental Health CenterBackground: Drug overdose continues to be the most common cause of acute poisoning worldwide. There has been a substantial increase in drug overdose incidence and prevalence over the past decade, probably as a result of the emergence of new synthetic designer drugs. The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with acute drug intoxication admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Methods: A single center, prospective, observational study was conducted among all adult patients with clinical signs suggestive of acute drug intoxication admitted from the Emergency Department (ED) to ICU during a 6-month period (September to March). Results: Sixty-five patients were admitted. Their median age was 49 years (mean 48.2, range 20–72), and the majority were male (48, 74%). Median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score on admission to ICU was 6 (mean 6, range 0–13). Fifty-five patients (85%) had a positive urine and/or serum toxicology screen. Most commonly detected substances were: opiates (18, 33%), cocaine (13, 24%), methadone (12, 22%), benzodiazepines (10, 18%), and marijuana (9, 16%). In 16 patients (29%), >1 substance was isolated. Twenty-three patients (35%) had negative urine toxicology screen. Ethyl alcohol was detected in the serum of 23 patients (35%). Five patients (8%) expired in ICU. Conclusion: Classic recreational drugs remain the most common substances involved in acute drug poisoning. More sensitive detection methods are warranted to identify new designer drugs of abuse such as synthetic cannabinoids.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20009666.2017.1356189Recreational drugsoverdoseintoxicationpoisoningIntensive Care Unit (ICU) |
| spellingShingle | Jose Orsini Nanda Din Ershad Elahi Anthony Gomez Salil Rajayer Ryan Malik Elie Jean Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with acute drug intoxication admitted to ICU Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives Recreational drugs overdose intoxication poisoning Intensive Care Unit (ICU) |
| title | Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with acute drug intoxication admitted to ICU |
| title_full | Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with acute drug intoxication admitted to ICU |
| title_fullStr | Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with acute drug intoxication admitted to ICU |
| title_full_unstemmed | Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with acute drug intoxication admitted to ICU |
| title_short | Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with acute drug intoxication admitted to ICU |
| title_sort | clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with acute drug intoxication admitted to icu |
| topic | Recreational drugs overdose intoxication poisoning Intensive Care Unit (ICU) |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20009666.2017.1356189 |
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