Single-Breath-Count Test: An Important Adjunct in the Triaging of Patients in a Mass-Casualty Incident Due to Botulism Article (Web of Science)

abstract

  • AbstractClostridium botulinum toxins, the most poisonous substance known to humankind, are considered to be a [US] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category A bioterrorist agent. Despite this concern, little has been published with regard to the tactical aspects of triaging a mass-casualty event involving botulism victims arriving at an emergency department. Because neuromuscular-ventilatory failure is a principal reason for botulism's early morbidity and mortality, using a quick and sensitive test to evaluate this possibility is imperative. The purpose of this article is to propose the adoption of the Single-Breath-Count Test (SBCT). The ease and validity of the use of the SBCT in evaluating complications associated with various neuromuscular disorders make it an attractive adjunct for triage during a mass-casualty incident due to botulism. While education, immune globulin, antitoxin, and invasive airway techniques are well-recognized steps in treating botulism, incorporating a time-honored technique such as the SBCT, will be an important addition to the triage process.

authors

  • Bork, Christopher E.
  • Burkholder-Allen, Kelly
  • Bisesi, Michael S.
  • Gold, Jeffrey P.

publication date

  • 2010

published in

number of pages

  • 3

start page

  • 219

end page

  • 222

volume

  • 25

issue

  • 3