Contaminated Alcohol Prep Pads, Alcohol Swabs, and Alcohol Swabsticks manufactured by Triad Group were recently recalled because of concerns with Bacillus cereus. Use of any of these products could lead to life-threatening infections, especially in at-risk populations, such as the immune suppressed and surgical patients.
NASDAQ just wrote that some drug makers Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co., to name two have warned that those who use injectable medications should avoid using the Contaminated Alcohol Pads in light of the Alcohol Pad Recall, noting that the disinfecting pads, swabs, and swab sticks that come with the medications could also be contaminated.
The original recall notice, as we’ve previously written, involved Alcohol Prep Pads, Alcohol Swabs, and Alcohol Swabsticks are used to disinfect skin prior to an injection and can be identified by either “Triad Group, listed as the manufacturer, or the products are manufactured for a third party and use the following names in the packaging: Cardinal Health, PSS Select, VersaPro, Boca/Ultilet, Moore Medical, Walgreens, CVS, Conzellin. The medical device recall affects products marked as STERILE as well as non-sterile products.
To date, said NASDAQ, Triad has said it received one report of a nonlife-threatening skin infection. Meanwhile, a number of drugmakers have issued their own recalls, said NASDAQ, following Triad’s notice. Pfizer and Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc, a partner of Pfizer, suspended its shipments of Relistor, an injectable anti-constipation medication, pending replacement of the Contaminated Alcohol Pads. Single vials of Relistor are still being sold, said NASDAQ, citing Pfizer.
Merck said that the recalled Triad pads were distributed with its hepatitis C medication, Pegintron, and another related medication, Intron A, which is distributed outside of the United States, wrote NASDAQ. Merck will start completing orders for the drugs, but without the Contaminated Alcohol Pads for now.
GlaxoSmithKline PLC said some of the contaminated Triad pads may have been included in its U.S. packaging for starter kits for Arixtra, a blood-thinner. Roche Holding AG said the recalled Triad pads are included with some of its drugs such as Boniva, the bone-building medication, and Pegasys, which is a hepatitis C medication; Bayer AG packages Triad pads with its U.S.-distributed multiple- sclerosis drug Betaseron said NASDAQ. Health Canada reported that Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. is advising patients who take its MS drug, Copaxone, to not use any Triad pads, added NASDAQ.
All the drug makers say that the medications were not contaminated and that the medications can be used as directed, just not without any Triad pads, swabs, or swab sticks. Alternatively, patients are advised to use other products or a gauze pad or cotton ball soaked with 70-percent isopropyl alcohol to the injection site, wrote NASDAQ.
The recalled products were distributed nationwide to retail pharmacies and are packaged in individual packets and sold in retail pharmacies in a box of 100 packets. The products were distributed in the US, Canada, and Europe.
The recall notices advised consumers not to return the products on their own. They should instead call Triad Group Customer Service to receive a return authorization number and make all return arrangements.