Current Suspected Overdose Deaths in Delaware for 2024: Get Help Now!

Find school water testing results and additional resources

Attention Medicaid Participants: Eligibility Renewals Restarted April 1, 2023

Delaware.gov logo

Delaware Health Alert Network #285

November 7, 2012 9:05 am


Health Alert
CONTAMINATION OF ADDITIONAL MEDICAL PRODUCTS FROM NEW ENGLAND COMPOUNDING CENTER (NECC)

The Delaware Division of Public Health is issuing this health alert to provide healthcare providers and facilities with details regarding additional contaminated medical products identified in the ongoing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation associated with the fungal meningitis outbreak. It is unknown whether facilities in Delaware received the lots of contaminated betamethasone or cardioplesia solution.

Background

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and FDA are reporting that product testing has identified bacterial contamination with several Bacillus species and closely related bacterial organisms in unopened vials of betamethasone and cardioplegia solution that were distributed and later recalled by NECC on October 6, 2012. These bacteria are commonly found in the environment and have been rarely reported as a cause of human disease; it is not known how product contamination with these species might affect patients. CDC has not received reports of laboratory-confirmed cases of infection due to Bacillus or closely related organisms linked to these products.

The following table provides CDC and FDA laboratory testing results for contamination and product lot numbers. Other cultures for these products, including fungal cultures, are pending.


Medication Lot number Microbial contamination
Betamethasone 08202012@141 Paenibacillus pabuli/amolyticus, Bacillus idriensis, Bacillus flexus, Bacillus simplex, Lysinibacillus sp.
Betamethasone 07032012@22 Bacillus niabensis, Bacillus circulans
Betamethasone 07302012@52 Bacillus lentus, Bacillus circulans
Cardioplegia solution 09242012@55 Bacillus halmapalus, Brevibacillus choshinensis

Recommendations

  1. Clinicians should consider these product findings when reviewing laboratory results from patients who have been exposed to a NECC product.
  2. Do not use any product produced by NECC as previously recommended by CDC and FDA.
  3. Continue follow-up of patients who received any injectable NECC product, including betamethasone or cardioplegia solution purchased from or distributed by NECC after May 21, 2012.
  4. For healthcare providers diagnosing and treating symptomatic patients who have received NECC products, CDC recommendations have not changed and can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/clinicians/index.html#Guidance.

Additional Information

******************

You are receiving this message because you are a registered member of the Delaware Health Alert Network. If you are not a member and would like to subscribe, please register at https://healthalertde.org

Categories of Health Alert messages:

  • Health Alert: Conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention.
  • Health Advisory: Provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action.
  • Health Update: Provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action.
NOTE: This page is for informational purposes only and dated material (e.g. temporary websites) may not be available.



+