Clinical Trial: Prevention of Jellyfish Stings

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Field Study of the Prevention of Jellyfish Stings With a Topical Sting Inhibitor

Brief Summary: Jellyfish stings are a common occurrence among ocean-goers worldwide with an estimated 150 million envenomations annually. Fatalities and hospitalizations occur annually, particularly in the Indo-Pacific regions. A new topical jellyfish sting inhibitor based on the mucous coating of the clown fish prevents 85% of jellyfish stings in laboratory settings. The field effectiveness is unknown. This is a field test to determine the real world effectiveness.

Detailed Summary:

Jellyfish stings are a common occurrence among ocean-goers worldwide with an estimated 150 million envenomations annually. Fatalities and hospitalizations occur annually, particularly in the Indo-Pacific regions. A new topical jellyfish sting inhibitor based on the mucous coating of the clown fish prevents 85% of jellyfish stings in laboratory settings.

Clown fish inhabit within the tentacles of sea anemones, which have stinging cells similar to those of jellyfish, yet clown fish are not stung by the sea anemones. In controlled laboratory environments, the jellyfish sting inhibitor, Safe Sea™ when applied to volunteers' arms, prevented 100% of Chrysaora fuscescens stings and 70% of Chiropsalmus quadrumanus stings. Of the C. quadrumanus stings that occurred, their intensity was diminished. The field effectiveness is unknown. This is a field test to determine the real world effectiveness of Safe Sea to prevent jellyfish stings.


Sponsor: Boulware, David R, MD

Current Primary Outcome: Incidence of jellyfish stings [ Time Frame: during recreational saltwater exposure (~30 min) ]

Original Primary Outcome: Incidence of jellyfish stings

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Occurrence of seabather's eruption [ Time Frame: within 48 hours of saltwater exposure ]
  • impact of body hair on jellyfish stings [ Time Frame: after recreational saltwater exposure ]


Original Secondary Outcome:

  • Occurrence of seabather's eruption
  • impact of body hair on jellyfish stings


Information By: University of Minnesota - Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Dates:
Date Received: June 17, 2005
Date Started: April 2004
Date Completion:
Last Updated: August 12, 2009
Last Verified: August 2009