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A descriptive study of acutely poisoned patients presenting to the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services
Background: The scale and types of acute poisoning presenting to the prehospital provider in South Africa and other low- or middle-income countries is largely unknown. Emergency medical services (EMS) are often responsible for the on-scene management and transport of these patients and have a range...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
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Division of Emergency Medicine
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613176950947840 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Moreira, Fabio |
| author2 | Hodkinson, Peter |
| author_browse | Hodkinson, Peter Moreira, Fabio |
| author_facet | Hodkinson, Peter Moreira, Fabio |
| author_sort | Moreira, Fabio |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Background: The scale and types of acute poisoning presenting to the prehospital provider in South Africa and other low- or middle-income countries is largely unknown. Emergency medical services (EMS) are often responsible for the on-scene management and transport of these patients and have a range of treatment options depending on scope of practice. The aim of this study was to describe acute poisoning patients presenting to the Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted utilizing electronic patient care data of acute poisoning cases extracted from EMS records for the calendar year 2022. Results: Of the 2254 acute poisoning cases identified, 69.03% were female. The median age was 27 years, and the method of poisoning was most commonly ingestion (97.20%). A single toxin was involved in 46.85% of cases, while 32.03% of cases involved multiple toxins. In 34.38% of all cases, a toxin unknown to EMS was reported. Paracetamol and alcohol were the most common known toxins observed. The top 5 toxins by single toxin involvement were herbicides and pesticides; antiretrovirals; antiseptics and disinfectants; paracetamol; and hydrocarbons. There were a higher number of cases in the second half of the year, with a peak in November and December, as well as more cases. during weekends. Most cases were triaged as moderate to severe acuity. Activated charcoal was administered in 3.46% of cases; oxygen was administered in 3.82% of cases; intravenous access was obtained in 17.7% of patients and 1.97% of cases had a documented airway intervention performed. Conclusion: There is a necessity for better awareness, and improved training for EMS providers to enhance the care of acute poisoning patients. Further research is warranted to investigate the gaps in management and the implications for patient outcomes, ultimately contributing to the development of effective interventions and educational programs aimed at reducing the incidence and severity of acute poisoning. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42516 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | English eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:31:58.458Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Division of Emergency Medicine |
| publisherStr | Division of Emergency Medicine |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42516 A descriptive study of acutely poisoned patients presenting to the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services Moreira, Fabio Hodkinson, Peter Van Koningsbruggen, Candice Emergency medical services South Africa Background: The scale and types of acute poisoning presenting to the prehospital provider in South Africa and other low- or middle-income countries is largely unknown. Emergency medical services (EMS) are often responsible for the on-scene management and transport of these patients and have a range of treatment options depending on scope of practice. The aim of this study was to describe acute poisoning patients presenting to the Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted utilizing electronic patient care data of acute poisoning cases extracted from EMS records for the calendar year 2022. Results: Of the 2254 acute poisoning cases identified, 69.03% were female. The median age was 27 years, and the method of poisoning was most commonly ingestion (97.20%). A single toxin was involved in 46.85% of cases, while 32.03% of cases involved multiple toxins. In 34.38% of all cases, a toxin unknown to EMS was reported. Paracetamol and alcohol were the most common known toxins observed. The top 5 toxins by single toxin involvement were herbicides and pesticides; antiretrovirals; antiseptics and disinfectants; paracetamol; and hydrocarbons. There were a higher number of cases in the second half of the year, with a peak in November and December, as well as more cases. during weekends. Most cases were triaged as moderate to severe acuity. Activated charcoal was administered in 3.46% of cases; oxygen was administered in 3.82% of cases; intravenous access was obtained in 17.7% of patients and 1.97% of cases had a documented airway intervention performed. Conclusion: There is a necessity for better awareness, and improved training for EMS providers to enhance the care of acute poisoning patients. Further research is warranted to investigate the gaps in management and the implications for patient outcomes, ultimately contributing to the development of effective interventions and educational programs aimed at reducing the incidence and severity of acute poisoning. 2026-01-09T11:30:52Z 2026-01-09T11:30:52Z 2025 2026-01-06T12:26:48Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters Masters http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42516 en eng application/pdf Division of Emergency Medicine Faculty of Health Sciences University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Emergency medical services South Africa Moreira, Fabio A descriptive study of acutely poisoned patients presenting to the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | A descriptive study of acutely poisoned patients presenting to the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services |
| title_full | A descriptive study of acutely poisoned patients presenting to the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services |
| title_fullStr | A descriptive study of acutely poisoned patients presenting to the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services |
| title_full_unstemmed | A descriptive study of acutely poisoned patients presenting to the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services |
| title_short | A descriptive study of acutely poisoned patients presenting to the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services |
| title_sort | descriptive study of acutely poisoned patients presenting to the western cape emergency medical services |
| topic | Emergency medical services South Africa |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42516 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT moreirafabio adescriptivestudyofacutelypoisonedpatientspresentingtothewesterncapeemergencymedicalservices AT moreirafabio descriptivestudyofacutelypoisonedpatientspresentingtothewesterncapeemergencymedicalservices |