Watch out for bacteria-tainted alcohol wipes

[kittyface]

"On Jan. 13, Genentech issued a statement warning users that the Triad alcohol
wipes packaged with some medications had been recalled. That included Pegasys,
or peginterferon alfa-2a, an injection medication used by Postich."

Article:  FDA knew of problems at plant that made tainted alcohol wipes

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41694606/ns/health-infectious_diseases/?GT1=43001

The FDA knew and didn't take action to protect the public?  Really????  

[viaduk]

sheesh!!!  Epogen and Procrit contaminated with glass shards; alcohol wipes contaminated with bacteria ... What will they think of next?

[Magnum]

Buy a box of alcohol wipes at Wal-Mart or your nearest drug store and forget the whole incident...

Magnum

[Junebug812]

I just noticed that my interferon also has the warning label, but only because I saw this posting. My prescription label was covering the warning label so I hadn't noticed. Of course I've used the pads because I didn't see the label. Not very responsible of them me thinks.

[Bali05]

I asked the same question to my pharmacy.
Why are you sending me a letter of warning but leave potentially contaminated alcohol pads
in the kit without sending a replacement ?
Just got a new refill of Peg/Rib and some additional alcohl pads......
If you don`t asked for it you won`t get it.

Kittyface is right , many diabetics don`t use them. The alcohol can also thoughen the skin
from multiple use.

[pj1881]

Why are we using alcohol wipes to avoid germs if they can live in the package with the alcohol?  Next thing we will get pads packed with different genotypes of HCV! Oh joy!

[hcvJames]

Why don't they replace them? My guess is they just found out, like in the last month. AND they have thousands upon thousands kits sitting in warehouses, hospitals, homes, etc., it just isn't practical. I'd rather get a warning instead of having my next months supply interrupted. Anyway the drugstore has boxes of pads. Just check who manufactured them, it's on there in small print or get a bottle of alcohol and cotton balls.

[kittyface]

The word that was bleeped from my post is p*ick in case you were wondering.  Word police are a bit overzealous.

KF

[kittyface]

Well it might cost more money to replace them.  I hope you're okay -- the article says a 2 year old boy died after using one of these wipes.  Be careful -- they are sold under many different brand news so it's hard to tell which one is safe.

BTW, I inject insulin 5 times a day and don't use wipes.  This is safe according to several nurses I know.  In fact, now that I think about it I may have used a wipe last year to do a finger ***** glucose test.  I got a nasty infection in that finger which has never happened in my whole life!

Guard yourself!

KF

[Diane12855]

I just got my Pegasys and it says "WARNING Do not use the alcohol prep pads contained in this package" My question is why didn't they just take the pads out and replace them with uncontaminated ones? And what about the one I used last Friday? There isn't any sign of infection yet. Wonder if anybody on here has gotten an infection from their alcohol pads.

Diane