Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Palmborg, M
• Didner, C
• Estankova, E
• Hubenova, A

Titel

The Leonardo Da Vinci Programme - Increased Collaboration between Poisons Centres

Ist Teil von

• Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 2007-05, Vol.45 (4), p.369-369

Erscheinungsjahr

2007

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

Alma/SFX Local Collection

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Objective: The Leonardo Da Vinci programme is a European Community programme launched to support funding of transnational partnership projects aimed at improving quality, fostering innovation and promoting the European dimension in vocational training. Information about the programme is available at the Da Vinci national websites. Within this programme a bilateral exchange has started with the following countries: Bulgaria, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden. The objective is to create opportunity for further education and promote exchange of experience between poisons centres in Europe. Methods: The Swedish Poisons Information Centre (SPIC) has received a grant for nine persons to facilitate visits to these countries. Expenses for administration, travel and accommodation during two weeks each are covered. This project will be running during the period 2006-2008. The initial phase started with a visit by two participants from the Swedish centre to the Toxicology Clinic (TC) in Sofia, Bulgaria. Organization and function of the TC were studied and the poisoning patterns in the two countries were compared. Results: Both centres started their activity around 1960. The main organisation of the TC is concentrated on treatment of acute poisoned patients in two treatment wards (adults and children) in contrast to the SPIC where the main responsibility is a 24-hour telephone service to both medical professionals and the general public. 2,617 patients (adults 75%, children 25%) from the Sofia area (1.5 million inhabitants) were treated in the TC during 2005 because of poisonings by Pharmaceuticals (45.6%), chemical products (36.6%), pesticides (11.2%), and plants/mushrooms (6.6%). The most common groups of Pharmaceuticals were combined preparations (30.1%), benzodiazepines (23.5%), and antidepressants (12.3%). Corresponding data for chemicals were ethanol (59.8%), sodium hydroxide (23.1%) and gases (5.7%). In 2005 the SPIC answered 76,996 inquiries from Sweden (9 million inhabitants) and of these 61,821 were acute poisoning incidents in humans. Chemical products were present in 41%, Pharmaceuticals in 39% and plants/mushrooms in 13% of these episodes. The most frequent Pharmaceuticals, among patients advised to seek medical attention or treated in hospital, were neuroleptics, sedatives and hypnotics (23.7%), analgesic drags (19.8%) and psychoanaleptics including antidepres-sants (12.8%). Corresponding data for chemicals were detergents (24.4%), fuels (12.3%) and gases (10.2%). Conclusion: The initial phase of the funding programme Leonardo Da Vinci has taken place. Increased collaboration between poisons centres will enhance the exchange of experience and knowledge and also create a basis for the development of poisons centres.