Contaminated Syringes Linked to Blood Infections in Area

December 21, 2007

Federal health officials and the Florida Department of Health are investigating cases of a rare bloodstream infection in at least three states that have been linked to heparin-filled medical syringes that were contaminated with bacteria at the manufacturing facility in North Carolina. As of Thursday, 13 people in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have become ill with a rare bacterial infection suspected of being linked to the contaminated heparin syringes.

Investigation by the Health Department and local hospitals indicates that most of the people in Pensacola who developed the blood infections had used the heparin syringes as part of their home IV therapy.

No deaths have been reported in Pensacola, but some of those suspected of having the bacterial infection are hospitalized at Pensacola area hospitals.

Investigations are ongoing, with the hospitals awaiting the results of blood tests verify whether patients who used the pre-filled heparin syringes are positive for the bacterial infection. Symptoms of the bacterial infection, called Serratia marcescens, include flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches and chills. While the infection can cause serious illness and is potentially deadly, it can be treated with antibiotics.

Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control said it was investigating cases where patients developed infections after receiving doses of contaminated heparin in Illinois and as many as four other states. The infections were first identified in Chicago and traced to heparin-filled syringes that patients used in home treatments for cancer and other ailments. Heparin is a blood thinner that is used to clear catheters and intravenous lines and to keep them from clotting.

Patients in the Pensacola area who received the heparin from the contaminated batch are being contacted by the local distributor of the product, which was manufactured by a company called Sierra Pre-Filled Inc. in North Carolina. Sacred Heart Hospital also is contacting home health patients who may have used the syringes. Sierra has announced a recall of the syringes and asked facilities that use the product to no longer distribute the suspected batch of heparin syringes.

Some home health patients obtained the syringes from a local infusion company. The home care agency also has contacted its patients who received syringes manufactured by Sierra to inform them of the recall, offer them follow-up care, and to tell them not to use the product. Sacred Heart also sent an alert yesterday to its physicians.

Patients who used a heparin-filled syringe from lot number 070926H should contact their local physician or supplier with concerns about getting a blood test, or if they are having symptoms, they should seek immediate medical care at a hospital Emergency Department.

The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta said the lot of contaminated heparin could have been given to patients in Illinois, Florida, Texas, Colorado and Pennsylvania.

For more information on the local investigation of the bacterial infections, please call the Escambia Health Department at 595-6555. For information on the statewide investigation, contact the Florida Department of Health Communications Office at (850) 245-4111.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News