Antivenom

Expanding Access to Antivenom in Brazil’s Amazon Region: A Worthwhile Investment

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Brazil’s Amazon region has been grappling with a high rate of snakebite incidents, making it imperative to enhance the availability of antivenom across hospitals and community health centers. A recent study conducted by Duke University and two Brazilian institutions highlighted the potential benefits of increased accessibility to antivenom in reducing death and disability resulting from venomous snakebites. Published in The Lancet Regional Health—Americas, the study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of this approach.

Snakebites in the Brazilian state of Amazonas occur at a rate ranging from 45 to 235 per 100,000 people annually—the highest in the world. Timely treatment with antivenom has proven highly effective in combating most snakebites. However, the current situation in Brazil indicates that antivenom is predominantly available in larger urban hospitals. Consequently, individuals bitten by venomous snakes in remote areas often experience severe complications or even succumb to the bites before they can receive treatment.

The study aimed to compare different strategies for expanding access to antivenom in Amazonas, which would provide insights into the potential health and economic benefits. João Ricardo Nickenig Vissoci, Ph.D., the lead author of the study and chief of the Duke Department of Emergency Medicine’s Division of Translational Health Sciences, emphasized that this is the first study to assess the impact of increasing accessibility to snake antivenom in Latin America.

The researchers evaluated three models for expanded access: one focusing on increasing availability in 95% of hospitals, another targeting 95% of community health centers located in rural areas, and the final model encompassing both hospitals and community health centers. All three models demonstrated substantial economic benefits and successfully prevented deaths and disabilities, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). Expanding access to both hospitals and community health centers yielded the most significant benefits, preventing up to 3,922 DALYs and generating economic benefits of up to US$8.98 million. The estimated cost of expanding access amounted to approximately $328 per DALY averted.

Although Brazil has substantial antivenom production capabilities, the study exposes the impact of limited access to antivenom in regions most affected by snakebites. Vissoci urges policy prioritization for increasing access to snake antivenom in countries grappling with a high burden of snakebite envenoming. He also highlights the significance of decentralized distribution of treatment and the necessary infrastructure and knowledge to facilitate its delivery, aligning with the recommendations put forth by a World Health Organization working group on snakebite envenoming.

Looking ahead, the researchers plan to conduct trials, focusing on making antivenom available at community health centers in Amazonas. By training community care providers to administer antivenom safely and effectively, they aim to bridge the access gap and enhance treatment opportunities.

The study’s findings reinforce the importance of widening access to antivenom in Brazil’s Amazon region. It underscores the potential benefits in reducing the negative impact of snakebite incidents, both in terms of health outcomes and economic implications. Implementing sustainable strategies that encompass therapeutics, decentralized distribution of treatment, and the required infrastructure will prove critical in effectively combating snakebite envenoming. The study paves the way for informed decision-making and policy formulation to address this pressing issue in the region.

 

*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it

Ravina
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Ravina Pandya,  Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. With an MBA in E-commerce, she has an expertise in SEO-optimized content that resonates with industry professionals.