Use of personal protective equipment in Canadian pediatric emergency departments.

Objective: Numerous barriers to maintaining infection control practices through the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) exist in the emergency department (ED). This study examined the knowledge, self-reported behaviours, and barriers to compliance with infection control practices and the use of PPE in Canadian pediatric EDs.

Methods: A self-administered survey instrument consisting of 21 questions was developed and piloted for this study.

Use of single-dose activated charcoal among Canadian pediatric emergency physicians.

Objective: Gastric decontamination with single-dose activated charcoal (SDAC) is a mainstay in emergency department (ED) treatment of ingestions. Guidelines updated in 2005 encourage practitioners to use SDAC only in toxic ingestions presenting within 1 hour. Despite these guidelines, adult studies demonstrate a significant lack of consensus.