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Geoff
Isbister BSc MBBS Department of Clinical Toxicology and Pharmacology Newcastle Mater Hospital Contact Details
Research Projects Other Links
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Main researchers : G.K.Isbister;
M. Gray (Australian Museum) Institutions involved : Royal Prince Alfred Emergency Department Royal Darwin Hospital NSW Poisons Information Centre Western Australian Poisons Information Centre Queensland Poisons Information Centre Summary : This study was commenced to determine the clinical effects
of confirmed spider-bites where the spider has been collected at the time of
the bite and the spider is then identified correctly by an expert
arachnologist. The study initially
commenced in the Emergency Department of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
(Sydney) and was then extended to include all calls to NSW Poisons
Information Centre (NSW daytime, and Australia-wide overnight). The study was then further extended to
include Royal Darwin Hospital, Western Australian Poisons Information Centre
(WA, SA and NT daytime) and Queensland Poisons Information Centre (Qld
daytime). The study thus encompasses
most of Australia except for Victoria and the ACT during daytime hours. Areas of particular interest have been
white-tail spider-bites, characterization of spider-bite by circumstances and
clinical effects and the natural course of red-back spider-bites. Preliminary results to date include the
effects of 52 white-tail spider-bites and tropical spider-bite in
Australia. Involvement : If you have been bitten by a spider, and collected the
spider at the time of the bite, you are welcome to be involved in the
study. You only need to contact the
poisons information line 13 11 26 and give your name and phone number. You will then be contacted by myself to be
involved in the study. In Victoria
and ACT you can only be involved in this particular study if you call after
8.30 pm at night.
Main researchers : G.K.Isbister;
M. Harvey (WA Museum) Institutions involved : Royal Darwin Hospital NSW Poisons Information Centre Western Australian Poisons Information Centre Summary : This study was commenced to determine the clinical effects
of confirmed scorpion stings where the scorpion has been collected at the
time of the sting and the scorpion is then identified correctly by an expert
arachnologist. The study commenced at
Royal Darwin Hospital to include all cases referred to myself through the
hospital and both WA and NSW Poisons Information Centres. There have been no past studies on
scorpion stings in Australia, and a large number of people aren’t aware of
scorpions in Australia. This study
will characterize the clinical effects of stings by Australian scorpions
where the scorpions are correctly identified to genus or species where
possible. Involvement : If you have been stung by a scorpion, and collected the
scorpion at the time of the sting, you are welcome to be involved in the
study. You only need to contact the
poisons information line 13 11 26 and give your name and phone number. You will then be contacted by myself to be
involved in the study. In Victoria, Queensland
and ACT you can only be involved in this particular study if you call after
8.30 pm at night. The study may be
extended in the future to other states. Prospective study of the clinical effects of confirmed caterpillar
stings or reactions in Australia. Main researchers : G.K.Isbister. C. Balit (NSW Poisons Centre). R.
Russell (Department of Medical Entomology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney) Institutions involved : NSW Poisons Information Centre Summary : This study has been designed to collect data on caterpillar
stings and reactions throughout Australia.
A recent case report has indicated that quite significant effects can
occasionally occur with caterpillar stings (MJA 2000) and there are no
previous cases series of caterpillar envenomation. The study will include all calls to NSW Poisons center where
there is a suspected sting by a caterpillar.
If caught the caterpillar will be collected and identified by an
entomologist. The study will also
include millipedes and centipedes due to the common misidentification. All cases will be followed up in the first
24 hours, and then at a week if required.
Involvement : If you have been stung or had a reaction to a
caterpillar (or what you believe to be a caterpillar) , and collected the
creature at the time of the sting, you are welcome to be involved in the
study. You will need to contact the
NSW poisons information line 13 11 26 to be involved. In states other than NSW you can only be
involved in this particular study if you call after 8.30 pm at night when all
calls are referred to NSW. Prospective study of the clinical effects of venomous fish stings
(including sting rays) – to be commenced in early 2000 Main researchers : G.K.Isbister. C. Balit (NSW Poisons Centre). Institutions involved : NSW Poisons Information Centre Summary : Although there are many reports of stings by fish and sting
rays in Australia, and information on treatment and first aid, there are no
series of stings or prospective studies of the effects of stings. There are also no studies on the
effectiveness of hot water immersion therapy, and the use of antibiotics in
marine stings. The study will collect
cases referred to the NSW Poisons information center. The aims will be to determine the clinical
effects and the time course of the effects by following up all stings where
possible. The study will also examine
the effects of hot water immersion therapy by using a protocol designed by
the researchers. Involvement : If you have been stung by a fish or sting ray and would
like to be involved in the study you only need to contact the NSW poisons
information line 13 11 26 to be involved.
In states other than NSW you can only be involved in this particular
study if you call after 8.30 pm at night when all calls are referred to NSW. Historical research into venomous fish stings Main Researchers : G.K.Isbister K.E.Langford Institutions involved : Newcastle Mater Hospital Summary : A large amount of information about venomous fish and their
stings is known by commercial and recreational fisherman, and not the medical
profession. There are probably a
large number of marine stings that are never reported by fishermen. The aim of this study is to collect
information from commercial and recreational fisherman, and other persons who
have been stung by fish in the past.
This will be done by using a standardized questionnaire or
interviewing the persons involved to get the information. Although this is an unstructured and
retrospective study, it will hopefully collect a large amount of useful
information that has not been previously available to venom researchers and
clinicians. Involvement : If you would like to be involved in this study and have
either been stung by a fish in the past, or know of people who have been
stung, or have information about venomous fish please contact us via my email
: gsbite@bigpond.com and we will send
out a questionnaire, or you can just email us any information you are aware
of. Funding Currently none of these studies have any government or private funding
and rely completely on the efforts of the persons and groups involved. In the future we would like to expand this
research and continue comprehensive studies into bites and stings in
Australia. A better understanding of
different creatures and their bites or stings will improve the medical care
of patients who suffer these injuries.
To allow us to do this more effectively we are looking for funding
from private groups and individuals, as well as continuing to submit grant
applications to government funding agencies and private trusts. If you are interested in or are able to assist us in funding for this
research, please contact the author by email : gsbite@bigpond.com . |
