An outbreak of poisoning in Vietnam caused by the adulteration of alcoholic drinks with acetonitrile

Contamination of alcoholic drinks with acetonitrile resulted in 20 hospitalizations and two fatalities. In the 14 patients with hospital records, acetonitrile exposure was associated with delayed-onset gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms as well as increased lactate concentrations. Two patients required mechanical ventilation and vasopressor support for haemodynamic disturbances. Abnormalities of the corpus callosum were noted on neuroimaging in three patients, which might have been caused by acetonitrile. A shorter acetonitrile elimination half-life was noted in patients who received extracorporeal treatment. All patients who arrived at a medical facility survived to hospital discharge without severe residual symptoms.