Cleaning and Disinfectant Chemical Exposures and Temporal Associations with COVID-19 — National Poison Data System, United States, January 1, 2020–March 31, 2020

Potential sources, modes of transmission and effectiveness of prevention measures against SARS-CoV-2

“…Disinfection of surfaces in a household with chlorine-or ethanol-based products can reduce the risk of transmission when the primary case has diarrhoea [171]. The frequent use of household disinfectants also results in a remarkable increase of exposures reported to US poison centers, especially via ingestion in the age group between 0 and 5 years [188]. General disinfection of frequently touched surfaces in the public such as shopping carts or door handles is, however, unlikely to add any protective value because even in COVID-19 wards inanimate surfaces were mainly contaminated in the permanent and immediate surrounding of symptomatic patients (detection of viral RNA, not of infectious virus) and only rarely one room away [138] suggesting that the risk to find SARS-CoV-2 on frequently touched surfaces in the public is low.…”

The challenges of COVID-19 for community pharmacists and opportunities for the future

“…Across the spectrum of mental health conditions, increased volumes of supply, changing medications brands and associated instructions due to medication shortages and the removal of routine face-to-face consultations increase the risk of non-adherence, misuse, accidental and intentional overdoses and poisonings. Emerging poisoning cases also include those related to poisonings linked with disinfectants and hand sanitisers (Chang et al 2020). These risks may be further magnified by the background of increased population anxiety, distress and reduced access to healthcare providers for support.…”

The positive effects of covid-19

“…American doctors have expressed alarm over a nosedive in patients presenting to emergency departments with heart attacks, strokes, and other conditions, leading to fears that patients are too afraid of contracting covid-19 to seek necessary medical care 1. Calls to poison control centres are up by around 20%, attributed to a rise in accidents with cleaners and disinfectants even before President Trump questioned whether injected disinfectants might stop the virus 2. Calls to suicide prevention lines are skyrocketing, while health experts are fretting about signs of rising alcohol and drug use, poorer diets, and a lack of exercise among those cooped-up at home 3.…”