Medical College of Wisconsin
CTSICores SearchResearch InformaticsREDCap

Outcomes of pediatric ingestions of alcohol-based hand sanitizers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2023 Aug;61(8):613-615

Date

09/19/2023

Pubmed ID

37725079

DOI

10.1080/15563650.2023.2255378

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85171690214 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   1 Citation

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In July 2020, an outbreak of methanol-contaminated hand sanitizers in the United States prompted our regional poison center to implement a more conservative triage guideline for hand sanitizer exposures. All pediatric hand sanitizer ingestions of more than a "taste" were referred to a healthcare facility for assessment. We then evaluated the effect of this change on identifying patients with methanol poisoning.

METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective review of pediatric (<19 years) hand sanitizer ingestions reported to our poison center from May 1, 2020 through January 28, 2022. Methanol and ethanol concentrations were collected if available.

RESULTS: During the study period, we received 801 calls regarding hand sanitizer exposure, of which 140 children were referred to a healthcare facility for hand sanitizer ingestions. Of those, 88 (63%) had methanol and/or ethanol concentrations measured. No child had a detectable methanol concentration, 78 had ethanol testing, and 12 had a detectable ethanol concentration.

CONCLUSIONS: In this sample, no patient tested had a detectable methanol concentration. Children who consumed enough to have a detectable ethanol concentration were symptomatic or had an intentional ingestion. Asymptomatic children with unintentional ingestion of hand sanitizer were at low risk for methanol toxicity.

Author List

Corcoran J, Feldman R, Theobald J

Author

Ryan J. Feldman PharmD Adjunct Assistant Professor in the School of Pharmacy Administration department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Child
Eating
Ethanol
Hand Sanitizers
Humans
Methanol
Pandemics
Poison Control Centers
Poisons
United States