Health Advisory
BLOODSTREAM INFECTION CLUSTER ASSOCIATED WITH SALINE CATHETER FLUSH PRODUCTS

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is issuing this health advisory to provide the healthcare community with information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health about an ongoing investigation involving a cluster of Pantoea bloodstream infections associated with a specific lot of saline syringes.

Summary

The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are working with the Illinois Department of Public health to investigate a cluster of Pantoea species bloodstream infections related to a single healthcare facility from August 2012 - February 2013, and associated with a specific lot of saline syringes. Persons with most recent illness developed signs and symptoms of bloodstream infection soon after receipt of saline solution from pre-packaged 10 cc saline syringes from AMUSA, Nashville, TN 37211 (Lot KH03856).

Background

Pantoea is a gram-negative aerobic bacillus in the family of Enterobacteriaceae. It has been shown to cause bloodstream infections associated with contaminated transfusion products. Additional information regarding the signs and symptoms of patients with the Pantoea infections mentioned above is limited. However, these are likely similar to the signs and symptoms of bloodstream infections from other Enterobacteriaceae.

Recommendations/Reporting

Healthcare facilities and providers who are aware of patients with gram-negative bacteremia within 5 days of receipt of saline solution from this lot (pre-packaged 10 cc saline syringes from AMUSA, Nashville, TN 37211 LOT KH03856) or other lots of this product manufactured from August 1, 2012 - February 25, 2013 should contact the Delaware Division of Public Health, Bureau of Epidemiology (24/7) at 1-888-295-5156.

Additional Information

• Preventing healthcare-associated infections: http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/prevent/prevention.html
• Information on healthcare-associated infections in Delaware: http://dhss.delaware.gov/dph/epi/haihomepage.html

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