On-Line Poisons Information in New Zealand. Current Status and Future Challenges

The New Zealand National Poisons Centre has developed its own Internet accessible poisons information database, TOXINZ (www.toxin.com). This resource currently contains information regarding some 164,000 chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, plants and hazardous creatures (including synonyms). In New Zealand it is used by all major hospitals and currently accounts for 59.5% (44,729) of annual enquiries to the New Zealand National Poisons Centre, representing a penetrance of 10.9 per 1,000 population. The 'traditional' telephone system answers 40.5% (30,471) of enquiries.) Currently TOXINZ is available to overseas Poisons Information Centres and is utilised by some 33 Centres in 27 countries. Overall, this project has proven to be highly effective at delivering quality poisons information. However, we are now facing a series of challenges due to the popularity and size of the database, coupled with increasing user expectations. Due to the ever changing nature of medical - and particularly toxicology - information, there is a constant requirement to update treatment recommendations. With a small database it is reasonably easy to incorporate change on an ongoing basis. However, as a database grows it will reach a point where all available resources can be consumed by the requirement to maintain existing information - no new data can be added and the database will not continue to grow. Or, conversely, the information contained will not keep pace with change, and degrade. Another challenge is globalisation and associated: ever broadening international trade of chemical and pharmaceutical products, increasing range of trade-names, and international movement of hazardous plants and creatures. There is a mounting need to access accurate toxicology information describing these substances, poisons and venoms. Such realities are increasing the requirement for a truly international poisons information repository. Yet, such a database would be large and expensive, and would need some form of international co-operation. Furthermore, such a resource should preferably meet the requirements of a wide range of countries taking into account differing levels of funding, antidotes, and treatment methodologies. While TOXINZ has gone some way to address this need, such an initiative will need novel information technology solutions to be practicable and cost effective; and a methodology to fund such a project will need to be developed, coupled with a genuine international desire to contrib