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Child dies from tainted alcohol wipes - FDA had knowledge - get list of brands

Douglas Roill's photo
Scottsdale Healthy Living Examiner

Hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts, in Scottsdale Arizona, often carry alcohol wipes as a quick way the clean minor scrapes and abrasions or a quick cooling in triple digit temperatures. Alcohol wipes are also used by various trail monitoring personal and volunteers as a "safe" means of cleaning superficial injuries ... minimizing the chance of an allergic reaction in individuals that have a sensitivity to a tincture of iodine or other skin disinfectants.

Now, as reported at MSNBC, after the death of a 2-year-old Texas boy,  millions of tainted alcohol wipes, made by the Triad Group were recalled on January 5, after being found to be contaminated with that bacteria Bacillus cereus. The recall came with a warning from the company that using the wipes ..."could lead to life-threatening infections, especially in at-risk populations, including immune-suppressed and surgical patients."
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It was discovered that the alcohol wipes were used on the boy "while he was in the hospital in November to have a tumor near his spine removed." He "became gravely ill" and was brain dead within hours of contracting meningitis.
 
According to an AOL follow up article, "Government documents obtained by MSNBC.com show that officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)" knew about  "issues with sterilization as early as July 2009." at the Triad manufacturing plant, (where the alcohol wipes were processed) and "found no evidence that the agency did anything about the lapse or tried to enforce compliance with proper safety practices."
 
The report went on to say that FDA officials wrote of their visits to the plant that "the firm wasn't able to validate its quality, sterility and safety procedures for its alcohol wipes and pads as well as other products including hemorrhoid creams, glycerin suppositories and lubricating jelly."
 
Others, at least 50, have since come forward claiming they may have become ill from using the same product, with symptoms ranging from "mild skin infections" to death, according to the MSNBC report; however, none have yet been confirmed.
 
According to the medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com , Bacillus cereus is "a species of bacilli found in the soil. Symptoms are similar to those of Staphylococcus food poisoning. It can also cause infections, such as ocular infections."
 
According to khow.com, the following brands have been recalled:

Best Choice;  Care One; Cooper Atkins; CVS; Discount Drug Mart; Equaline; Equate; Exchange Select; Exact; Good Neighbor; Good Sense; Healthcare; Healthy Generations; Kroger; Leader; Life Brand; Longs; Major; MEIJER; Medicine Shoppe;  Personelle; Publix; Premier Value; Quality Choice; Rite Aid; Reli-On; Remedy RX ; Rexall ; Safeway; Shoppers Drug; Sunmark;  Up&Up; Top Care; Triad; Triad Sterile; Uniprix; Valu Plus; Western Family; Walgreens;

Sources: http://www.aolhealth.com, http://www.khou.com;  MSNBC,
 

Triad Alcohol Wipes Recalled
Triad Alcohol Wipes Recalled
Photo credit: 
Scottsdale Healthy Living Examiner

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, Scottsdale Healthy Living Examiner

Douglas is a Registered Dietitian and, Health and Wellness Coach, with a PhD in Healthcare Management, a Doctorate in Management and over 30 years of health care experience. He has worked in hospitals, clinic settings and private practice in the US, Canada, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab...

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