Clinical Toxicology

It could be argued that the earliest incarnation of clinical toxicology was the science of poisons and antidotes, which has been documented for more than 2000 years. Poison control centers (PCCs) provide information to patients and healthcare providers, and help diagnose the causes of poisoning cases and recommend treatments for poisoned patients. The standard of care for poisoned patients should be a methodical, stepwise procedure. As in any medical emergency, the first priority is to stabilize the patient. This involves using Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (ABC) procedures to support respiration and cardiovascular functions. Once the patient has been stabilized, it is important to take a thorough and detailed medical history. If toxicity is suspected, it is important that healthcare providers work with clinical toxicologists to recognize the effects of chemical exposures on humans. Once the patient's symptoms have been deemed consistent with poisoning, the next step is to perform an initial toxicant screening using suitable analytical methods. Preventing continued absorption of the offending toxicant in the patient is key to preventing escalation of toxicity. Once the possibility of continued absorption of the toxicant has been addressed, efforts should be made to enhance its rate of elimination from the body. In rare cases, there exists an antidote to a specific toxicant that can reduce toxicity until the offending compound can be metabolized and excreted from the body. Follow-up and supportive clinical care is essential to ensure the recovery of the patient.