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Drug products recalled for possible penicillin cross-contamination
Aidapak Services has issued a voluntary recall of a large number of repackaged drug products after learning of the potential cross contamination of non-penicillin with penicillin drug products repackaged in the same facility.
Aidapak Services has issued a voluntary recall of a large number of repackaged drug products after learning of the potential cross contamination of non-penicillin with penicillin drug products repackaged in the same facility.
According to an FDA safety alert, there is a potential serious risk to a patient’s health if these products are given to patients with known hypersensitivity to beta-lactam or penicillin products. The patient could have a serious anaphylactic reaction. However, a company press release states that there have been no reports of injuries to date.
FDA and Aidapak recommend that hospitals, emergency rooms, clinics, and other healthcare facilities stop distributing and quarantine the drug products immediately. A complete listing of products affected by this recall can be seen on the company’s website [http://aidapak.com/Recall/FDA%20Recall%20List%2020110601.pdf]. The products are stamped with Aidapak's packaging stamp, the company’s press release stated.
Healthcare professionals and patients should report adverse events, side effects, or quality problems to FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program online [www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm]; by mailing in the postage-paid, pre-addressed Form FDA 3500 [www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm]; by faxing 800-FDA-1078; or by calling 800-332-1088.
Aidapak Services said in its press release that a complete cleaning and decontamination of its facilities is under way, and that will be followed by testing conducted by 2 independent laboratories to ensure the absence of any penicillin or non-penicillin beta-lactam contaminates.
Coalition promotes important acetaminophen dosing reminders
November 18th 2014It may come as a surprise that each year Americans catch approximately 1 billion colds, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 20% get the flu. This cold and flu season, 7 in 10 patients will reach for an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to treat their coughs, stuffy noses, and sniffles. It’s an important time of the year to remind patients to double check their medicine labels so they don’t double up on medicines containing acetaminophen.
Support consumer access to specialty medications through value-based insurance design
June 30th 2014The driving force behind consumer cost-sharing provisions for specialty medications is the acquisition cost and not clinical value. This appears to be true for almost all public and private health plans, says a new report from researchers at the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID Center) and the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC).
Management of antipsychotic medication polypharmacy
June 13th 2013Within our healthcare-driven society, the increase in the identification and diagnosis of mental illnesses has led to a proportional increase in the prescribing of psychotropic medications. The prevalence of mental illnesses and subsequent treatment approaches may employ monotherapy as first-line treatment, but in many cases the use of combination of therapy can occur, leading to polypharmacy.1 Polypharmacy can be defined in several ways but it generally recognized as the use of multiple medications by one patient and the most common definition is the concurrent use of five more medications. The presence of polyharmacy has the potential to contribute to non-compliance, drug-drug interactions, medication errors, adverse events, or poor quality of life.
Medical innovation improves outcomes
June 12th 2013I have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the pancreas, a disease that’s long been considered not just incurable, but almost impossible to treat-a recalcitrant disease that some practitioners feel has given oncology a bad name. I was told my life would be measured in weeks.
