Hospira Announces Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Certain Lots of Several Lifecare Products Due to Potential for Leakage

200px-medicalDirectorsHospira, Inc. (NYSE: HSP), today announced the voluntary recall of certain lots of several products in its LifeCare™ line of flexible intravenous solutions due to the potential for leakage. The issue, which Hospira notified customers about in a Dear Health Care Provider letter issued earlier this year, was identified during re-inspection of a manufactured product lot in which a single puncture mark was identified going through the overwrap and primary container.

The puncture in the primary container may result in leakage that is difficult to detect. Leakage may result in an open system, which has the potential for contamination, compromised sterility, drug waste, spillage, inadequate or inconsistent solution/medication dosing, and/or delay in therapy, all of which may require medical intervention and should be reported to Hospira and/or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Hazardous topical exposure may occur if a hazardous drug is added to the flexible container. Hospira’s product insert packaged with LifeCare flexible intravenous containers recommends providers do not administer unless solution is clear and the container is undamaged.

The root cause is attributed to a defect in a conveyance system, and corrective actions have since been implemented to prevent a reoccurrence. To date there have been no reports of adverse events associated with this issue for the impacted lots. The manufacturing issue that caused this incident has been addressed. Hospira recommends impacted customers check with their local Hospira representative or with Hospira Customer Care regarding replacement product.

The affected lots were originally distributed by Hospira to direct accounts from September 2013 through October 2014. The full lot list can be found at this web site.

Covidien Initiates Voluntary Field Safety Alert for Multi-function Defibrillation Electrodes

Sample photos from Coviden web site. For illustration only. Contact Coviden for exact models effected by recall.

Sample photos from Coviden web site. For illustration only. Contact Coviden for exact models effected by recall.

Dublin, Ireland — Covidien today announced that it has notified customers of a voluntary Field Safety Alert for certain Medi-Trace™ Cadence and Kendall™ Multi-function Defibrillation Electrodes due to a connector compatibility issue with Philips FR3 and FRx Defibrillators.

These electrodes will not connect with Philips FR3 or FRx AED units, and in the case of the use of Covidien defibrillation electrodes with the Philips FR3 AED units, could result in a delay of therapy. The FRx AED unit requires the pads to be pre-connected, and will issue a continuous alarm chirp to alert the user that the proper pads are not connected to the unit prior to use. The FR3, however, does not require pre-connection and the user will not discover the compatibility issue until the AED must be used. This may result in a delay in therapy.

Philips FR3 and FRx AED units should only be used with the Philips brand electrodes specified in the equipment manual.

Covidien has received two reports where customers attempted to use a Covidien electrode with a Philips FR3 AED unit. The mismatch of these devices contributed to a delay in resuscitation and may have contributed to the subsequent death of one patient.

Covidien alerted customers to the this issue by letter on September 18, 2014, and has revised labeling to clarify that use of these electrodes is incompatible with Philips FR3 and FRx AED units.

The Field Safety Alert requests that customers review the use of Covidien defibrillation electrodes in their facility to assure that Covidien electrodes are not placed for use with Philips model FR3 or FRx AEDs.

There are a total of 644,460 electrodes affected by this safety alert.

The following Covidien electrodes are affected:

  • 22660R – Medi-Trace™ Cadence Adult Multi-Function Defibrillation Electrodes Radiotransparent
  • 22660PC – Medi-Trace™ Cadence Adult Multi-Function Defibrillation Electrodes Pre-connect
  • 20660 – Kendall™ Adult Multi-Function Defibrillation Electrodes
  • 40000006 – Kendall™ 1710H Multi-Function Defibrillation Electrodes

In addition, similar private label electrodes produced by Covidien were also distributed under the following brands, and have the same connector compatibility issue:

  • MC1710H – MediChoice® Multifunction Electrode
  • M3718A – Philips HEARTSTART Multifunction Electrode Pads

The Field Safety Alert applies to all lot numbers distributed globally.

The Food and Drug Administration has classified this as a Class 1 Recall, the most serious recall where there is a reasonable risk of a serious adverse health consequences or death.

For further information or to report a problem, please contact Covidien Quality Assurance at 1-800-962-9888, option 8, then extension 2500 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (eastern) or email Mansfield.productmonitoring@covidien.com

Oregon Compounding Centers, Inc. Issues Voluntary Recall of Unexpired Sterile Products in Oregon and Washington

Wilsonville, Ore. – Oregon Compounding Centers, Inc., dba Creative Compounds, is voluntarily recalling certain unexpired human and veterinary sterile products to the consumer level due to lack of sterility assurance.

The company has not received any reports of product contamination or adverse events to date, but is issuing this voluntary recall out of an abundance of caution following a recent inspection which identified an issue with sterility assurance. If there is microbial contamination in products intended to be sterile, patients are at risk of serious infections which may be life threatening.

“We are fully cooperating with health officials,” said Denise Burnham, R.Ph., owner and pharmacist. “We deeply regret the impact this voluntary recall has on our customers, but patient safety is our highest priority.”

All recalled products have a label that includes the Creative Compounds name as well as a lot number. The recalled products were made from July 1, 2014 through September 22, 2014, and distributed to health care facilities, physicians, and patients in two states, Oregon and Washington.

The recall does not pertain to any non-sterile compounded medications prepared by the pharmacy.

All unexpired lots of the following sterile compounded products are subject to the recall:

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