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Nerve Agent Exposure > Non-drug Therapy Author: Elliot Rodriguez, MD, FACEP; Christine M. Stork, PharmD, DABAT
Editorial changes - 2009-10-30
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Rationale:

  • Nerve agents can be absorbed through skin contact with exposed clothing and jewelry, and copious irrigation with water should decrease dermal contact with the exposed agent.

Evidence:

  • A review article notes a lack of studies assessing efficacy of differing decontamination techniques but offers U.S. Army and Israeli military standards as a recommendation (16).

Comments:

  • Because nerve agents are inactivated by alkaline solutions, a neutralizing agent such as 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution (one part household bleach plus nine parts water) may be useful for skin decontamination.

FAQs
Christine M. Stork, PharmD, DABAT has no financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, or health-care related organizations. Elliot Rodriguez, MD, FACEP has no financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, or health-care related organizations. Jerrold B. Leikin, MD, editorial consultant, received royalties from McGraw-Hill, Taylor and Francis; editor of Toxicoterrorism (McGraw-Hill).
Steven E. Weinberger, MD, FACP, Acting Editor, PIER, has stock holdings in Glaxosmithkline and Abbott.

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