Texas/Ill infection - Heparin

[donsu]

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index.php?smp=&lang=eng

As if they weren't already sick enough, a mysterious IV infection has affected 21 Chicago-area patients and at least 40 patients in Texas and Illinois who were receiving home IV's for diseases such as cancer. No deaths have been reported but fourteen have been hospitalized since the infections began surfacing earlier this month. The infection causes flu-like symptoms of fever and chills but responds well to antibiotics. The source of the bacterial infection known as Serratia marcescens, is believed to be the intravenous lines which also used heparin to prevent blood clots according to hospital officials at Rush University Medical Center. The mystery is whether the heparin, the syringes or the saline used to flush out IVs contain the bacterial contamination.

Rush was the first institution to report the mysterious infection of the blood after a number of patients contracted it. Heparin is the same drug that was given in an overdose recently to the infant twins of actor Dennis Quaid. The twins who initially began bleeding out, have recovered. The Quaids are suing Baxter Healthcare Group. The heparin in these cases reportedly comes from a different source. Sierra Pre-Filled is the Angier, North Carolina company that makes the heparin-filled syringes. The company says the single contaminated batch has been recalled. The CDC and FDA are both conducting investigations. The contaminated batch has a number of 070926H and doctors and medical facilities should be aware of any contaminated lots that may be on their shelves.)
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[kineneb]

1. eeek!

I wonder if the dialysis clinics have been alerted? They use Heprin to prevent clotting during the process. Hubby is on dialysis and is medically fragile.
:scared: