FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 17, 2005

HEALTH DEPARTMENT WARNS RESIDENTS ABOUT ILLNESS ASSOCIATED WITH POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED SYRINGES

The Westchester County Department of Health issued a warning today to residents receiving home health care and their medical providers that a bacterial infection (Pseudomonas fluorescens) was diagnosed in three people receiving home medical care in Westchester County and may be connected to contaminated medical syringes that were recalled by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on January 31.

The Westchester County Department of Health is working with the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine this product’s distribution in Westchester County. To date, only one home health care agency serving Westchester County is believed to have received shipment of the product. The preloaded syringes containing either heparin or sodium chloride catheter flushes were manufactured by the IV Flush, LLC and distributed by Pinnacle Medical Supply, Rowlett Texas. The product label in part reads “IV Flush Dallas, Texas.”

Symptoms of P. fluorescens infection typically include fever, low blood pressure and general malaise. It is caused by bacteria that build up inside of "in-dwelling" (long-term) catheters and intravenous lines used to provide fluids and medication.

“Anyone who may have received these syringes for a homebound individual should call the individual’s home care provider, or contact the Health Department at (914) 813-5000,” stated Westchester County Health Commissioner, Joshua Lipsman, M.D., M.P.H. “Additionally, doctors should report any cases of Pseudomonas bloodstream infections associated with the use of heparin or saline flushes prior to a patient’s illness that have occurred since October 1, 2004 to the Health Department at (914) 813-5000.”

More information on the FDA alert is available at www.fda.gov.

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