Universiti Malaya Community Engagement Centre (UMCares)

Universiti Malaya Community Engagement Centre (UMCares)

From Lab to Hospital: Mushroom Poisoning, A Differential Diagnosis in Acute Gastroenteritis

Mushroom poisoning has become common in Malaysia. There were a total of 71 mushroom poisoning cases in Malaysia. The poisoned patients often present gastroenteritis-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Delayed treatment and care may result in organ failure such as hepatic failure. Mushroom Research Centre (MRC) in UM has been consulted by the medical officers from different states to identify the mushroom species brought in by the poisoned patients. Since then, MRC and the Hospital of Kuala Lumpur (HKL) have established a link to identify mushroom poisoning. Throughout the ad-hoc basis of collaborative works between MRC UM and HKL, we identified certain knowledge gaps.

First, there is no list of poisonous mushrooms in Malaysia. Secondly, there is a lack of knowledge transfer from mycologist/scientist to the healthcare practitioners (medical officers and nurses) on mushroom toxicology and its clinical management. Lastly, there is no comprehensive information on mushroom-poisoning as a differential diagnosis of gastroenteritis. This project was initiated when a family of six was admitted to the emergency HKL on the 8^th of May 2016 because of severe mushroom poisoning. At the time, UMCares announced the grant. Therefore, the HKL and UM teams put in the proposal for this prestigious grant.

The objectives of the project were to: 1) improve and update data of mushroom poisoning incidents, 2) establish a pathway for mushroom poisoning management for clinics and hospitals, and 3) educate healthcare practitioners on mushroom poisoning and its management. From the grant, we have hired a dedicated research assistant. As an outcome, a website on poisonous mushrooms was created to enhance the public and medical practitioner’s knowledge on mushroom poisoning. The first National Mushroom Poisoning Workshop was successfully organized in HKL in November 2017. Subsequently, the team have been doing a few educational talks in science fairs, science café, and radio interviews. A book is now in the finalizing stage.

Project information

Project Execution: 9 months
Location: Hospital Kuala Lumpur & Universiti Malaya
Contributions from Civil Society: RM 1,700
Numbers of Community benifited: 119 people

Output of the project

Stakeholders Engagement

The stakeholder was the Emergency Department of HKL, led by Dato’ Dr Alzamani Idrose (Consultant Emergency Physician/ Disaster Medicine Specialist). The HKL team came out with the guideline of the clinical management of mushroom poisoning.

Future Enhancement

We plan to move forward to reach more doctors, starting from our own UMMC. A “Mushroom Poisoning Network” was officially established between UM, HKL, and MOH.