Health & Safety Watch - February 04, 2011 - Update - Alcohol pads, swabs, etc urgently recalled due to microbial contamination - Sold at pharmacies and included in drug kits for MS (COPAXONE) and Hep C (PEGETRON)
Initial Recall (1): Triad Group, a manufacturer of over-the-counter products, has initiated a voluntary product recall involving ALL LOTS of ALCOHOL PREP PADS, ALCOHOL SWABS, and ALCOHOL SWABSTICKS manufactured by Triad Group. These products are used to disinfect prior to an injection. This recall has been initiated due to concerns about potential contamination of the products with an objectionable organism, namely Bacillus cereus.
This recall involves products marked as STERILE as well as non-sterile. They were packaged in individual packets and sold in retail pharmacies. The affected products can be identified by either “Triad Group,” listed as the manufacturer, or the products are manufactured for a third party and use the names listed below in their packaging: Cardinal Health, PSS Select, VersaPro, Boca/ Ultilet, Moore Medical, Walgreens, CVS, Conzellin. See Product Details tab for additional details.
These products were distributed in the United States, Canada and Europe. Specific customers distributing the product and selling it at the wholesale, hospital and retail pharmacy level have been notified by certified mail with instructions on how to return the product.
Use of contaminated product could lead to life-threatening infections, especially in at risk populations, including immune suppressed and surgical patients.?To date the Triad Group has received one report of a non-life-threatening skin infection.
Event Update - Health Canada is informing Canadians that other health products have been identified that are co-packaged with affected alcohol prep pads manufactured by the Triad Group (See below). Alcohol prep pads closely resemble alcohol swabs and are used for the same purpose: to cleanse or disinfect a particular area of the body.
... read the update here for full product information
