Impacts on Human Health Potentially Caused by Exposure to an Unprecedented Ostreopsis spp Bloom in the Bay of Biscay, French Basque Coast

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, climate change and human activity have modified marine biotopes, including the widening distribution of harmful algal blooms (HABs). Bloom events predominated by microalgae of the genus Ostreopsis have been described on the French Mediterranean coast, but in 2021 an unprecedented bloom occurred on the French Basque coast. The objective of this study is to describe the health impact of the Ostreopsis spp bloom that occurred on the French Basque coast in 2021.

METHODS

A historical cohort was conducted, including cases of possible exposure to Ostreopsis spp registered at the Centre Antipoison de Nouvelle-Aquitaine between July 1 and September 30, 2021.

RESULTS

Of 674 patients with possible toxicity due to Ostreopsis spp, 96.9% had bathed in contaminated waters. Most of them developed respiratory tract symptoms (64.4% of patients). The time to the onset of symptoms was <6 h for 73.6% of 174 short-term (<24 h) exposed patients. The median duration of symptoms was 7.5 days for occupational (e.g., lifeguards and surfing instructors) and 3 days for recreational exposures. There were no severe cases. In total, 3% of the cases were of moderate severity, and 97% were of minor severity, according to the Poisoning Severity Score.

CONCLUSION

Toxic reactions caused by Ostreopsis spp are mostly benign. The clinical picture is similar to that described following exposures to Ostreopsis cf. ovata blooms in the Mediterranean area since the end of the 20th century. Ostreopsis spp are present on the Basque coast. The ecological factors promoting its blooms remain to be clarified.

Pre-hospital triage of children at risk of oesophageal button battery impaction: the button battery impaction score

INTRODUCTION

Button battery ingestion in children can be fatal if oesophageal perforation occurs. Such children require chest radiography in the emergency department to determine the button battery position and number. Current guidelines recommend that a button battery impacted in the oesophagus should be removed within two hours. We developed a clinical tool (the button battery impaction score) to estimate the risk of oesophageal impaction and help determine the most appropriate healthcare facility for initial assessment, either a local medical centre or a medical centre with the infrastructure for endoscopic retrieval.

METHODS

A multi-centre retrospective study was conducted over seven years in eight French poison centres. We included patients aged less than 12 years with radiography showing the button battery position and a symptom description before radiography. Button battery impaction scores were calculated using backward stepwise selection.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A total of 1,430 patients were included, of whom 86, 461, and 375 had a button battery in their oesophagus, stomach, and post-pyloric position, respectively. No button batteries were identified by radiography in 508 patients. Sixteen of thirty-five factors independently predicted oesophageal impaction before chest radiography (P < 0.05). After the backward stepwise selection, the following seven factors contributed to the button battery impaction score: cough, drooling, dysphagia/food refusal, fever, pain (unspecified location), vomiting, and button battery ≥ 15 mm. The button battery impaction score showed an area under the curve value of 0.87, a negative predictive value of 0.98, and a sensitivity of 0.86. No cases of death, stricture, or haemorrhage were observed in patients with negative scores, including those with oesophageal impaction.

CONCLUSIONS

A button battery impaction score used readily available data to predict the risk of oesophageal impaction after button battery ingestion and before chest radiography. When further validated, this rapid tool may be widely applicable in determining an appropriate facility for patient transfer to either a local medical centre or a medical centre with the infrastructure for endoscopic retrieval.

Severe post-pyloric injury after button battery ingestion: Systematic literature review and case report

BACKGROUND

The health and safety hazards related to button batteries (BB) have been extensively studied, highlighting that the presence of a button battery in the esophagus is a life-threatening emergency. However, complications related to bowel BB are poorly evaluated and not well known. The objective of this review of the literature was to describe severe cases of BB that have passed the pylorus.

CASE REPORT

This case, from the PilBouTox cohort, is the first report of small-bowel occlusion following ingestion of an LR44 BB (diameter: 11.4 mm) by a 7-month-old infant with a history of intestinal resections. In this case, the BB was ingested without a witness. The initial presentation mimicked acute gastroenteritis evolving into hypovolemic shock. An X-ray revealed a foreign body stuck in the small bowel causing an intestinal occlusion and local necrosis without perforation. The patient's history of intestinal stenosis and intestinal surgery were the contributing factor of impaction.

SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

The review was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. The research was conducted on September 12, 2022 through five database and the U.S. Poison Control Center website. An additional 12 severe cases of intestinal or colonic injury after ingestion of a single BB were identified. Of these, 11 were related to small BBs (< 15 mm) that impacted Meckel's diverticulum and one was related to postoperative stenosis.

CONCLUSION

In view of the findings, the indications for digestive endoscopy for extraction of a BB in the stomach should include a history of intestinal stenosis or intestinal surgery so as to avoid delayed intestinal perforation or occlusion and prolonged hospitalization.

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), 1,4-butanediol (1,4BD), and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) intoxication: A state-of-the-art review

γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is synthesized endogenously from γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or exogenously from 1,4-butanediol (butane-1,4-diol; 1,4-BD) or γ-butyrolactone (GBL). GBL, and 1,4-BD are rapidly converted to GHB. The gastric absorption time, volume of distribution, and half-life of GHB are between 5 and 45 min, 0.49 ± 0.9 L/kg, and between 20 and 60 min, respectively. GHB and its analogues have a dose-dependent effect on the activation of GHB receptor, GABA-B, and GABA localized to the central nervous system. After ingestion, most patients present transient neurological disorders (lethal dose: 60 mg/kg). Chronic GHB consumption is associated with disorders of use and a withdrawal syndrome when the consumption is discontinued. GHB, GBL, and 1,4-BD are classified as narcotics but only the use of GHB is controlled internationally. They are used for drug facilitated (sexual) assault, recreational purposes, slamsex, and chemsex. To confirm an exogenous intake or administration of GHB, GBL, or 1-4-BD, the pre-analytical conservation is crucial. The antemortem cutoff doses for detection are 5 and 5-15 mg/L, with detection windows of 6 and 10 h in the blood and urine, respectively Control of GHB is essential to limit the number of users, abuse, associated risks, and death related to their consumption.

Button Battery Ingestion in Children (PilBouTox®): A Prospective Study Describing the Clinical Course and Identifying Factors Related to Esophageal Impaction or Severe Cases

In this study, we aimed to identify the factors related to esophageal impaction following button battery (BB) ingestion in children. PilBouTox, a prospective multicentric observational cohort study, was conducted from French Poison Control Centers between June 1, 2016 and May 31, 2018. Children (0-12 years old) with BB ingestion were included. After ingestion, patients were monitored for 21 days or more if they remained symptomatic (maximum 1 year). Causes of ingestion, clinical manifestations, medical management, and the outcomes were recorded. In total, 415 patients were included; among them, 35 had esophageal impaction and 14 had severe complications or died. Seven symptoms were closely related (relative risk (RR) > 30) to esophageal impaction: anorexia, drooling, dyspnea, fever, hemodynamic instability, pallor, and pain. Furthermore, BBs > 15 mm were related to esophageal impaction (RR = 19, CI_95% [4.1; 88]). The absence of initial symptoms was a protective factor for esophageal impaction (RR = 0.013, CI_95% [0.002; 0.1]). Nine symptoms were closely related (RR > 30) to major effects and death: dyspnea, cough, dysphagia, drooling, fever, hemodynamic instability, pain, pallor, and vomiting. Seven symptoms were related to esophageal impaction and their rapid recognition could help to ensure that the patient is taken to a health care facility. Nine factors were related to the major effects of BB ingestion. We recommended an X-ray as soon as possible to determine the position of the BB.Trial Registry: Clinical Trial ID: NCT03708250, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03708250.

French Scorpionism (Mainland and Oversea Territories): Narrative Review of Scorpion Species, Scorpion Venom, and Envenoming Management

Sixty-seven scorpion species have been described in France and its territories, where they have been found to be heterogeneously distributed. Indeed, only one species can be found on Réunion Island, while 38 species exist in French Guiana. The number of stings is also heterogenous, with up to 90 stings per 100,000 inhabitants occurring annually. Scorpion species can frequently be determined through simple visual factors, including species of medical importance (i.e., Buthus, Centruroides and Tityus). Scorpion venom is composed of local enzymes and peptides with a cysteine-stabilized α/β motif (NaTxs, Ktxs, Calcines), which allow for venom diffusion and the prey's incapacitation, respectively. Harmful scorpion species are limited to Centruroides pococki in the French West Indies, which can induce severe envenoming, and the Tityus obscurus and Tityus silvestris in French Guiana, which can cause fatalities in children and can induce severe envenoming, respectively. Envenomation by one of these scorpions requires hospital monitoring as long as systemic symptoms persist. Typical management includes the use of a lidocaine patch, pain killers, and local antiseptic. In the case of heart failure, the use of dobutamine can improve survival, and pregnant women must consult an obstetrician because of the elevated risk of preterm birth or stillbirth. France does not have scorpion antivenom, as scorpion stings are generally not fatal.

Poison control centres and alternative forms of communication: comparison of response rates between text message and telephone follow-up

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, the number of patients managed by poison control centres (PCCs) has increased without a proportional increase in the number of physicians. To improve efficiency without neglecting patient follow-up, some PCCs have begun using text messages. We evaluated the difference in response rates between text messaging and traditional telephone follow-up.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective, monocentric, non-randomised cohort study was conducted using data from calls made by the New Aquitaine PCC between February 27, 2019, and March 31, 2019. Patients were contacted up to three times by a phone call or short message service (SMS).

RESULTS

For the analysis, 823 patients were included. At the end of follow-up, the response rates were similar in the phone call and SMS group (94 vs. 94%; p = 0.76) with median [interquartile range] response times of 0 min [0; 27 min] and 29 min [6; 120 min], respectively. The response rates did not differ in subgroups stratified according to sex, self-poisoning vs. relative response, age class, and solicitation during working hours vs. outside of working hours (all p > 0.5). Moreover, health practitioners required 2.4-fold more time to call than to send text messages (p < 0.001), and all practitioners were satisfied or very satisfied with text messaging implementation.

CONCLUSION

Patients had good adherence to text messages. Text messages are easy to use, rapid, and allow the physician to easily prioritise follow-up without occupying the emergency line. Additionally, the costs of installation and maintenance are low for text message systems; these low costs facilitate the implementation of such services in various medical situations.

Relationship Between Scorpion Stings Events and Environmental Conditions in Mainland France

In the world, the impact of environmental conditions on the number of scorpion events was evaluated in North Africa,Middle East, and the Amazonian region but not in Europe. In mainland France, scorpion species described are Buthus occitanus (Amoreux, 1789), Belisarius xambeui (Simon, 1879) and 4 Euscorpiidae: Euscorpius concinnus (Koch, 1837), Euscorpius italicus (Herbst, 1800), Euscorpius tergestinus (Koch, 1837), and Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudis (De Geer, 1778). We aimed to describe the impact of environmental conduction on the number of scorpion events. For this, a retrospective multi-center study was conducted with data from the French poison control centers files about scorpion events between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2020. During the study period, 975 incoming calls for scorpion events were recorded and 574 were related to scorpions native to mainland France and Corsica: B. occitanus (n = 86), Euscorpiidae species (n = 222), B. xambeui (n = 1), and undetermined species (n = 265). Cases were mostly reported along the Mediterranean coast, along rivers, and in cities with a trading port. The number of scorpion events was linked to the rivers' water level, rivers' flow, temperature, sunshine, and pluviometry (P < 0.05 for all variables). B. occitanus need warmest and driest environment than Euscorpiidae spp. A link between the severity of the envenoming and climatic condition or seasonality was not demonstrated.