Parents Blame Bacteria Tainted Alcohol Pads for Toddler's Death

[RamboLiberal]

After complications from surgery to remove a benign cyst near his brain and spine, 2-year-old Harrison Kothari seemed to be recovering well.

"He was supposed to get discharged the next day," said Shanoop Kothari, Harrison's father.

But on December 1, Harrison's organs began failing from acute bacterial meningitis. He died soon after.

"Nobody from the hospital could tell us how he got this rare bacteria, what caused it, it was a mystery," said Shanoop Kothari.

Harrison's death was a mystery to his family until they heard of a recall of the same brand of sterile alcohol pads used during his procedure, the kind used in many hospitals and doctors' offices.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/lawsuit-alcohol-pads-meningitis-home/story?id=12910318

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. How can an alcohol pad have bacteria on it?

Weird.

Seems so bizarre.

[azurnoir]

3. Depends on the strength of the alcohol if they were the

usual 70% which most pads are then there some resistant bacteria that could live on them, if they were 91% then it is unlikely
In any event the infection was almost certainly medically aquired

[cynatnite]

2. Honestly, I'm not sure how far this will get...

They have no evidence this alcohol pad caused this.

[AnneD]

4. Just recieved this e-mail......

Triad Group Issues a Voluntary Nationwide Recall of All Lots of Alcohol Prep Pads, Alcohol Swabs, and Alcohol Swabsticks Due to Potential Microbial Contamination
HARTLAND, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--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 but which are private labeled for many accounts to the consumer level. This recall involves those products marked as STERILE as well as non-sterile products. This recall has been initiated due to concerns from a customer about potential contamination of the products with an objectionable organism, namely Bacillus cereus. We are, out of an abundance of caution, recalling these lots to ensure that we are not the source of these contamination issues.

Use of contaminated Alcohol Prep Pads, Alcohol Swabs or Alcohol Swabsticks could lead to life-threatening infections, especially in at risk populations, including immune suppressed and surgical patients. To date we have received one report of a non-life-threatening skin infection.

Alcohol Prep Pads, Alcohol Swabs and Alcohol Swabsticks are used to disinfect prior to an injection. They were distributed nationwide to retail pharmacies and are packaged in individual packets and sold in retail pharmacies in a box of 100 packets. The affected Alcohol Prep Pads, Alcohol Swabs and Alcohol Swabsticks 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

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. If a consumer has any of these types of products in their possession listing “Triad Group” as the manufacturer, they should not use the product and should return it to the place it was purchased for a full refund or call Triad Group Customer Service Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. Central Time: 262.538.2900.

DO NOT RETURN THE PRODUCT ON YOUR OWN, simply call the Triad Group Customer Service listed below and we will issue you a return authorization number and make all return arrangements.

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
Regular Mail: use postage-paid, pre-addressed Form FDA 3500 available at: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm. Mail to address on the pre-addressed form.
Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178
This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

Contacts

Triad Group
Eric Haertle, COO, 262-538-2900

Permalink: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110105007134/en/Triad-Group-Issues-Voluntary-Nationwide-Recall-Lots

There might be more to this story....AnneD