Antivenom Does Not Cause Snakebite Complications, Withholding It Does

We read with interest the retrospective chart review “Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab and Cost-Effective Management of Hospital Admission for Snakebites” by Bowden, et al. The efficacy of US snake antivenoms has been well established for decades. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial (RCT) has demonstrated Fab antivenom efficacy using patient-centered outcomes such as return of functionality and other patient-reported outcomes. These benefits occurred in a predominantly mildly envenomated patient population in a time-dependent manner. The cost-effectiveness of snake antivenom has been demonstrated globally, but no US cost-effectiveness studies have been published. Based on the evidence hierarchy of evidence-based medicine, the discordance between this study and the RCT merits discussion.