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Article: Use of IV Solution Ordered Halted; FDA Says Product Often Given to Heart Patients May Be Contaminated
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- March 19, 2005
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Federal regulators alerted hospitals nationwide last night not to
use an intravenous solution commonly given to heart patients, saying
it may be contaminated with the bacteria that caused this year's
shortage of flu vaccine.
The Food and Drug Administration issued the alert against use of
Pharmedium magnesium sulfate with the lot number 100504900049 and
expiration date 4/4/05.
The product is often given intravenously to patients undergoing
cardiac surgery and was apparently distributed to several hospitals
around the country.
It has been associated with at least five recent cases of Serratia
marcescens infection in a hospital in New Jersey, the FDA said,
without identifying the hospital. ...