Legal News

A voluntary recall has been issued for Triad alcohol swabs, alcohol swabsticks, and prep pads. The manufacturer of the over-the-counter alcohol swabs, prep pads and swabsticks initiated the recall due to concerns that the products were potentially contaminated with Bacillus cereus, an organism that causes meningitis. The recall includes sterile and non-sterile products.

In addition to the Triad recall, third parties that sell Triad alcohol swabs are continuing to issue recalls. The Food and Drug Administration is also continuing to advise the public and medical community of the potential contamination.

The following products may contain or be packaged with contaminated Triad alcohol swabs:

• Boxes of 100 individually packaged swabs, pads and swabsticks, marketed by Boca/Utilet, Cardinal Health, Conzellin, CVD, Moore Medical, PSS Select, VersaPro or Walgreens.
• Trelstar packages and the MIXJECT system by Watson Pharmaceuticals.
• Extavia, marketed by Novartis.
• Arixtra Starter Kits manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.
• Relistor kit by Pfizer and Progenics.
• Betaseron marked by Bayer.
• Boniva Injection, Fuzeon, Nutropin A.Q.Pen, Pegasys, and TNKase made by Genentech.

Manufacturers of kits and injections assure that the products themselves are not contaminated, though they may have been packaged with contaminated Triad alcohol swabs.

Persons in possession of contaminated Triad alcohol swabs should return the products to place of purchase, notes the FDA. A full refund will be issued. Persons who used these products should report any side effects or illness to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program. To find up to date information on potentially affected products, continue to check the FDA's Triad recall notice.

Related Resources:

• Alcohol prep pads, swabs recalled by FDA (Endocrine Today)
• Pfizer, Progenics alert physicians & patients on Triad's recall (Pharmabiz)
• Watson Announces Important Action Related to Nationwide Recall of Triad Alcohol Prep Products (FDA)