Clinical Research Directory

Analysis of the Efficacy of Pressure Pad vs Pressure Bandage Immobilisation for Snake Bite First Aid in Healthy Volunteers.

Snake bite affects thousands of Australians every year, but few die as a result due to high quality first aid and timely medical care. Good first aid should be simple, standardised, use minimal or readily available equipment, and be able to be utilised effectively with no or minimal training by the rescuer. Over time the first aid methods used to manage snake bite in Australia have been questioned due to issues with efficacy, and some emerging evidence of harm from their use. There is little experimental data in the literature to support current first aid practices, and what exists suggests further research is required. This study aims to examine and compare the effectiveness of two first aid methods by tracking the movement of a mock venom through the body when each first aid method is used. This will provide important information about the suitability of current techniques used in Australia and whether a proposed simpler alternative technique is as effective. Currently, initial treatment of snake bite involves early first aid with the application of a pressure bandage and immobilisation (PBI) of the limb. There is limited data to support the basis of this technique and emerging evidence of harm when applied incorrectly. This project sets out to evaluate PBI compared to another technique involving the application of a pressure pad (PP) at the bite site (which is easier to do, and used in many countries outside of Australia). The project aims to determine whether each technique is effective, and whether the PP technique is at least as effective as PBI. To do this 24 participants will be recruited to undergo study with mock venom injected into their hand or foot and having either PBI or PP applied. The mock venom will then be traced with a gamma camera to determine rate of flow through the lymphatic system, which is how venom travels in the body. It is expected that the project will demonstrate the efficacy of both techniques, and that the PP will be at least as effective as PBI. This will provide a basis for change in the current first aid recommendations for snake bite first aid in Australia, and improve the care provided.

Safety and Effectiveness of PANAF-Premium TM Snake Venom Antiserum As Standard Treatment for Snakebites

Snakebite envenomation (SBE) is a major public health problem in many developing countries. Standard snake antivenom (SA) remains the primary treatment and has been shown to reduce mortality in observational studies conducted in several sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Although it is relatively available in other endemic contexts such as Asia and Latin America, there have been major challenges with the reliable supply of effective products in sub-Saharan Africa for many years. Premium Serums \& Vaccines Pvt. Ltd. (PSVPL) recently introduced its SA brand, namely PANAF-Premium TM, manufactured to address unmet treatment needs in the local context. This serum has received WHO approval for use in sub-Saharan Africa and is used in Cameroon with neutralizing efficacy for 24 species represented in Africa. This is an open-label, Phase IV post-marketing surveillance study to collect safety and effectiveness data systematically following the administration of PANAF-Premium TM. The study will describe the types, severity, and number of adverse events recorded following the administration of PANAF-Premium TM and its effectiveness for snakebite management. Epidemiological data will also be collected, along with information on the snake species typically responsible for bites in the North region of Cameroon, the type of envenomation, the total dose of SA required for reversal of envenomation, and the total time required for clinical recovery. This will complement the international and national pool of pharmacovigilance data.