**********************************************************
The Department of Health (DH) today (January 25) advised the public not to use Triad Group's alcohol swab preparations supplied with certain Schering-Plough SOL Limited injections due to potential bacterial contamination in the swabs.
The DH received notification from Schering-Plough, the registration holder for these products in Hong Kong, following the United States Food and Drug Administration's blanket market recall of Triad Group's Alcohol Prep Pads, Alcohol Swabs and Alcohol Swabsticks because of potential contamination by a bacterium, Bacillus cereus. The following products registered in Hong Kong are to be withdrawn temporarily from the local market as they are copacked together with one of the aforementioned swabs -
a) Intron A inj 18miu/1.2ml multidose pen (Registration No.: HK-46113);
b) Peg-Intron Redipen for inj 50mcg/0.5ml (Registration No.: HK-55115);
c) Peg-Intron Redipen for inj 120mcg/0.5ml (Registration No.: HK-55117);
d) Peg-Intron Redipen for inj 100mcg/0.5ml (Registration No.: HK-55118); and
e) Peg-Intron Redipen for inj 80mcg/0.5ml (Registration No.: HK-55119).
Intron A is used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C and leukemia, while Peg-Intron Redipen is used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Both are prescription drugs and are usually distributed to public and private hospitals, private doctors and pharmacies.
"Bacillus cereus contaminated alcohol swabs are not only inferior quality products, they could lead to life-threatening infections in at-risk populations, including immune suppressed and surgical patients," a spokesman for the DH said.
"However, it must be understood that there is no evidence showing that the concerned drugs themselves, Intron A and Peg-Intron Redipen, are tainted; it is only the accompanying alcohol swabs which are hazardous. Thus, the swabs should be discarded whereas the drugs can still be used in accordance with instructions on the package inserts or as directed by healthcare providers."
The spokesman advised patients and healthcare providers to use alternate alcohol preparations for pre-injection cleansing.
Schering-Plough has set up a hotline 3971 2941 to answer enquiries from the public.
Patients should seek advice from healthcare providers if in doubt or feel unwell.
Ends/Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Issued at HKT 13:12
NNNN
