Poison Control Center
Poison Control Center
Poison Control Center provides medical services in the field of prevention and treatment of acute poisoning with chemical substances, deals with scientific, and research work covering the field of toxicology and pharmacology.
Poison Control Center is comprised of two organizational units:
- Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology
- Clinic for Emergency and Clinical Toxicology
Read more......
Contact:
Poison Control Center , MMA, 11000 Belgrade, 17 Crnotravska St.
MMA Information Office: +381 11 / 2661122, 2662755
Poison Control Center, Head’s Office: Col. Prof. Dr. Dušan Jovanović: + 381 11 3609640
Poison Control Center, Administration Office: + 381 11 3609640
Clinic for Emergency and Clinical Toxicology, Head’s Office:
Col. Assist. Prof. Dr. Zoran Šegrt, : + 381 11 3609641
Clinic for Emergency and Clinical Toxicology, Administration Office: +381 11 3609156
Head of the Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology: Prof. Dr. Dubravko Bokonjić,
Head of the Department of Experimental Toxicology and Pharmacology:
Research Fellow, Vesna Jačević, DVM, Specialist in Pathologic Morphology
Expert team:.
National Poison Control Center (NPCC)
Organizational structure
Poison Control Center is comprised of two organizational units:
- Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology
- Clinic for Emergency and Clinical Toxicology
It also has a mobile toxicological-chemical squad operating as an independent organizational unit staffed by personnel from all the organizational units of the Poison Control Center. Mobile toxicological-chemical squad is activated only in case of large- scale chemical accidents.
Activities include:
- Prevention and treatment of acute poisoning with chemical substances
- Informative support to healthcare facilities dealing with treatment of patients with acute poisoning
- Education of personnel in pre-clinical and clinical disciplines within the fields of toxicology and pharmacology
- Scientific-research work in the field of toxicology
- Support to civil institutions in case of chemical accidents
- Testing on experimental animals and creation of documentation required for registering active substances and commercial products used for communal hygiene.
Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology
Organizational structure
The Institute has two departments:
- Department of Experimental Toxicology and Pharmacology
- Department of Toxicological Chemistry
Activities
The Institute covers numerous pre-clinical fields of toxicology and pharmacology importnat for dealing with toxicological problems within clinical practice.
Department of Experimental Toxicology and Pharmacology
Background
Department of Experimental Toxicology and Pharmacology has been a part of the Poison Control Center since 1998.
Organizational structure
The Institute has two organizational units:
- Section for Pharmacology
- Section for Toxicology
Activities include:
- Scientific-research work in the field of toxicology and pharmacology
- Pre-clinical drug investigation
- Evaluation of effeciency and safety of toxic chemicals used for communal hygiene (procedure, registration)
Personnel
This Department is staffed by three doctors of veterinary medicine (one research fellow, two specialists), two medical, one veterinaty and one laboratory technician and one laboratory animal caretaker.
Services
The overall potential of the Department ensures testing of certain pharmacodynamic and toxicodynamic activity of drugs and toxic chemicals on experimental animals. Its cooperation with other organizational units of the Institute of Toxicology andMMA clinics and institutes provides the possibility of working on more complex pre-clinical projects.
Efficiency
Standardized procedures of toxicological testing allows a larger number of tests to be completed within 7-14 days.
Teaching
Teaching activity is focused on training of students of the Reserve Officers School of the Medical and Veterinary Services as well as master’s and PhD residents from national civil and military institutions. The Department ’s personnel is also involved in practical and didactical activities aimed at preparation of OPCW mebers trained at the Military Medical Academy for various aspects of the control of chemical warfare agents. .
Scientific work
The Department’s staff members are actively involved in the scientific work in the field of experimental pharmaology and toxicology. Numerous scientific and medical papers have been published in both national and international journals and presented at the scientific meetings as well. Some staff members are involved in the scientific projects of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Development of the Republic of Serbia.
The most important services include:
1. Evaluation of rodenticidal efficiency of active substances and their commercial products
2. Evaluation of acute oral toxicity of active substances and their commercial products
3. Evaluation of acute dermal toxicity of active substances and their commercial products
4. Evaluation of ocular irritability of active substances and their commercial products
5. Evaluation of dermal irritability of active substances and their commercial products
6. Evaluation of gastroprotective action of active substances and their commercial products
7. Evaluation of abnormal toxicity of active substances and their commercial products
8. Evaluation of gastrointestinal edurance of active substances and their commercial products
9. Evaluation of antiinflammatory action of active substances and their commercial products
10. Evaluation of resorption of iron in the blood of rabbit
11. Evaluation of resorption of iron in the muscle of rabbit
Depending on the type of evaluation, the average gross expenses range from 8800 to 24000 RSD.
The estimated number of the above mentioned formulations evaluated on a yearly basis is between 50 and 100.
Request submission procedure
All the evaluations are carried out on the basis of the third party’s request submitted to the MMA Poison Control Center.
Department of Toxicological Chemistry
Background
The Department of Toxicological Chemistry grew from the Department of Counterchemical Protection of the Hygienic-Chemical Institute, Preventive Medicine Institute
Organizational structure
The Department comrises two analitically related laboratories boasting the state-of-the-art equipment:
- Laboratory for toxicological –chemical analyses and
- Laboratory for pharmacokinetic and pharmaceutical analyses.
Activities
The main activity of the Department for toxicological chemistry includes toxicological –chemical analyses for prompt, sensitive and reliable detection, identification and quantification of toxic chemicals in all kinds of tested samples (biological material, air and soil, water, food, industrial products, consumer goods ect,)
Urgent toxicological –chemical analyses of samples of biological material taken from the patients treated at the Clinic for Emergency and Clinical Toxicology are of the specific importance.
Personnel
The Department is staffed by 7 specialists in toxicological chemistry, 11 laboratory technicians and one laboratory dish washer.
Services
The most important services include:
• Urgent toxicological–chemical analyses of drugs, pesticides, narcotics, mycotoxins and alchocol in samples od biological material
• Determination of therapeutic concentrations of antiepileptics and other drugs in samples od biological material
• Drug testing and control during the import and registration procedure for the market
• Bioavailability (bioequivalence) studies of new formulations (drugs) for the market
• Testing and control of pesticide products, products for disinfection, anti-doping control, biological and other tests.
The Department of Toxicological Chemistry renders its services through its Emergency Toxicological-Chemical Unit operating 24 hours a day. In case of a chemical accident, the Department assists the Mobile Toxicological-Chemical Squad in carrying out tests and analytical tasks.
Average expenses per analysis amounts up to 600 -3000 RSD. The number of analyses conducted on a yearly basis ranges from 15000 to 25000.
This department has, in the recent period, contributed a great deal to drug abuse detection and fight against drug abuse and addiction as well.
Efficiency
The Department deals with detection, identification and quantification of a large number of actual toxic chemicals in all kinds of samples.
Laboratory equipment ensures the application of the following analytical methods: physical-chemical, chemical, immunochemical, enzymatic, chromatographic (TLC, HPLC, GC) and spectrometric (UV, VIS, IR, MS, AAS, AES).
Teaching
Teaching activities cover the fields of toxicological chemistry, NBC protection and advanced techniques and methods of instrumental analyses. The Department trains students of the Medical Services Reserve Officers School and master’s and PhD residents from national civil and military institution.
Scientific and medical work
The Department’s staff members are involved in the scientific work in the field of experimental toxicological chemistry and pharmacology. Numerous scientific and medical papers have been published in both national and international journals and presented at the scientific meetings as well. Its staff members are working on 4 scientific projects currently underway of the Military Medical Academy.
Clinic for Emergency and Clinical Toxicology
Background
The Clinic for Emergency and Clinical Toxicology has a long tradition of 40 years, high-tech departments and highly qualified medical staff. In the previous period, it has treated tens of thousands of patients.
Organizational structure
The Clinic for Emergency and Clinical Toxicology, the only one of that kind in our country dealing with acute poisoning, comprises the following organizational units:
• Intensive Care Unit
• Reanimation and Triage Department
• Toxicological Information Department
Activities
It operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It provides treatment to patients with acute poisoning caused by drugs, pesticides, corrosive substances, gases, fungi, industrial chemical substances and other toxic chemicals. Handling the injured and acute poisoned in mass chemical accidents also falls into the area of its responsibility. Treatment of patients with acute poisoning is performed in accordance with clearly defined Protocols, which are consistent with Protocols of toxicological centers in the world.
The Clinic for Emergency and Clinical Toxicology is active in postgraduate training in clinical toxicology subspecialty intended for specialists in internal, emergency and general medicine and pediatrics as well.
Intensive Care Unit
The Intensive Care Unit treats the patients with moderate to very severe acute poisoning requiring continuous monitoring of vital functions.
Personnel
It is staffed by highly qualified specialists in internal medicine and clinical toxicology, one specialist in anesthesiology and reanimation and one specialist in emergency medicine. They provide treatment to over 1500 inpatients each year. Nursing staff and paramedics are also fully trained for dealing with patients with acute poisoning, particularly in cases of mass chemical accidents.
Activities include:
- Inpatient treatment of patients with moderate to very severe acute poisoning
- Clinical drug investigation (antidotes, bioavailability/bioequivalence studies, etc.)
- Postgraduate training in the field of Clinical Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology.
The basic monitoring includes:
- heart frequencies
- blood pressure
- respiratory frequency
- pulse oximetry
- diuresis per hour
- temperature
- gases in arterial blood
The Clinic for Emergency and Clinical Toxicology operates 24 beds, out of which eight are available at the ICU. However, if required, the bed capacity can be fully utilized for intensive care of patients.
Equipment includes:
- 10 monitors
- 8 mechanical ventilators
- Infusion pumps
- 2 DC defibrillators
Reanimation and Triage Department
The Reanimation and Triage Department deals with the treatment of patients with mild to moderate acute poisoning (ethyl alcohol, narcotics). It admits about 2000 patients each year.
Personnel includes:
- Clinical toxicologist
- Medical technicians
- Paramedics
Activities
They include the following:
- First aid, emergency treatment, decontamination and detoxication rocedures and suportive measures upon patient’s admission
- Treatment of outpatients with mild to moderate acute poisoning (ethyl alcohol, narcotics, benzodiazepines, etc.)
- Medical follow-up of patients upon discharge.
Equipment includes:
- Portable mechanical ventilator
- DC defibrilator
Toxicological Information Department
Activities
The Toxicological information department is equipped with its own on-line computer database covering relevant references on:
- toxic chemicals and their commercial products
- producers and distributors of chemical substances including locations of their factories and storages in Serbia
- cases of acute self-poisoning, professional and accidental poisoning reported in Serbia
Personnel
- Clinical toxicologist
- IT engineer
Data on toxic chemicals include:
- Generic name (internationally encoded name
- ID number
- CAS number
- Formula
- Class
- Synonym
- Physical and chemical characteristics
Toxicolological properties (toxicity group, maximum allowed concentration at a working place and the environment, mechanism of toxic action, typical laboratory analyses, interactions, risk groups, complications, etc.)
- Symptoms and signs of poisoning (early, dominant and late)
- Medical measures (first aid, therapy)
- Detection and identification methods
- Protective equipment
- Fire prevention procedures
- Decontamination procedures
- Other relevant information
Data on commercial products of toxic chemicals include:
- Trade name
- ID number
- Name and location of a producer / distributor
- Generic name and quantity of active ingredients and excipients contained in the product
Data on producers / distributors include:
- Location, address, telephone and a person in charge
- List of chemicals produced/ stored including their minimum/maximum quantities
- List of commercial products produced/ stored including their composition and minimum/maximum quantities
- List of medical / ecological measures to be undertaken in case of chemical accident (global risk assessment, readiness measures, response to accident, etc.)
- Usual weather conditions in the region
Data on cases of poisoning to be included in the register include:
- Patient’s data
- Data on a person reporting a case of poisoning
- Suspected /verified cases of poisoning
- Undertaken treatment measures and procedures
- Discharge
Mobile Toxicological Chemical Squad
It is composed of the NPCC’s staff members and activated in case of chemical accidents of a larger scale.
Squad leader is Major Milorad Jovanović, a specialist in clinical toxicology
Transport services
They are provided mainly by cross-country vehicles and, if required, by air.
Activities
- Detection, identification and quantification of chemicals in water, air and soil as well as in biological material at the accident site (Toxicological Chemistry Department)
- Management and medical treatment of poisoned individuals (Clinic for Emergency and Clinical Toxicology)
- First aid and emergency treatment at the accident site and in close coordination with local Healthcare Service
- Assistance in treatment of poisoned individuals hospitalized in regional medical centers
- Supportive and symptomatic care during transportation of poisoned individuals to the National Poison Control Center (extremely severe cases)
Expert team:
Head of the Poison Control Center
Col. Prof. Dr. Dušan Jovanović, Clinical Pharmacologist
Head of the Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology:
Prof. Dr. Dubravko Bokonjić, .
Head of the Department of Experimental Toxicology and Pharmacology
Research Fellow, Vesna Jačević, DVM, Specialist in Pathologic Morphology
Captain I Cl, Miroslav Marković, DVM, Specialist in hygiene and technology of milk and milk products
Ana Vukajlović, DVM
Head of the Department of Toxicological Chemistry
Assoc.Prof. Dr.Vesna Kilibarda, Specialist in Toxicological Chemistry
Head of the Clinic for Emergency and Clinical Toxicology,
Col. Assist. Prof. Dr.Zoran Šegrt, Specialist in Internal Medicine –Cinical Toxilogist
Gordana Babić, MD, Specialist in Emergency Medicine - Cinical Toxilogist
Dragana Đorđević, MD, Specialist in Internal Medicine - Cinical Toxilogist
Nataša Perković-Vukčević, MD, Specialist in Internal Medicine
Olivera Potrebić, MD, Specialsi in Anesthesiology and reanimatology - Cinical Toxilogist
Tomislav Režić, MD, Specialist in Internal Medicine
Gordana Vuković-Ercegović, MD, Specialist in Internal Medicine
Head of Intensive Care Unit
Assist. Prof. Dr. Slavica Vučinić, Specialist in Internal Medicine –Cinical Toxilogist
Head of the Reanimation and Triage Department
Maj. Miodrag Jovanović, MD, Specialist in Clinical Toxicology
Head of the Toxicological Information Department
Assist. Prof. Dr. Jasmina Jović-Stošić, Clinical Toxicologist
Srnić Danica, MD, Specialist in Internal Medicine –Cinical Toxilogist – Clinical Cardiologist
Contact:
Poison Control Center , MMA, 11000 Belgrade, 17 Crnotravska St.
MMA Information Office: +381 11 / 2661122, 2662755
Poison Control Center, Head’s Office: Col. Prof. Dr. Dušan Jovanović: + 381 11 3609640
Poison Control Center, Administration Office: + 381 11 3609640
Clinic for Emergency and Clinical Toxicology, Head’s Office:
Col. Assist. Prof. Dr. Zoran Šegrt, : + 381 11 3609641
Clinic for Emergency and Clinical Toxicology, Administration Office: +381 11 3609156
Head of the Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology: Prof. Dr. Dubravko Bokonjić,
Head of the Department of Experimental Toxicology and Pharmacology:
Research Fellow, Vesna Jačević, DVM, Specialist in Pathologic Morphology
