FDA Alerts

Class 1 Recall: Nurse Assist Inc. Recalls Normal Saline Flush IV Syringes Due to Possible Burkholderia Cepacia Bloodstream Infections

Nurse Assist Inc. is recalling the normal saline flush syringes due to incidents of Burkholderia cepacia (B. cepacia) contamination. B. cepacia is a bacterium that can cause bloodstream infections, particularly in patients with weak immune systems.

Wed Jan 04 2017By Jonathan Payne

Class 1 Recall: Nurse Assist Inc. Recalls Normal Saline Flush IV Syringes Due to Possible Burkholderia Cepacia Bloodstream Infections

The FDA has identified this as a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall. Use of these devices may cause serious injuries or death.

 

Recalled Product:

  • Product Name: Normal Saline Flush
  • Product Description: 12 mL IV Flush Syringe with a 3 mL, 5 mL, or 10 mL fill volume
  • Product Codes: All lots of product codes: 1203, 1205, 1210 and 1210-BP
  • Manufacturing Dates: September 24, 2015 to August 1, 2016
  • Distribution Dates: February 16, 2016 to September 30, 2016
  • Devices Recalled in the U.S.: 386,175 syringes nationwide

 

Device Use

The normal saline flush is a plastic syringe filled with 0.9% Sodium Chloride. It is used to clear out medical devices that deliver medicine directly into the veins of a patient through a needle or catheter. These syringes are used by health care providers in hospitals or clinics before and after a drip medication is connected to a patent.

 

Reason for Recall

Nurse Assist Inc. is recalling the normal saline flush syringes due to incidents of Burkholderia cepacia (B. cepacia) contamination. B. cepacia is a bacterium that can cause bloodstream infections, particularly in patients with weak immune systems.

 

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the effects of Burkholderia cepacia on people "vary widely, ranging from no symptoms at all to serious respiratory infections, especially in patients with cystic fibrosis."

The use of affected products may cause serious adverse health consequences including bloodstream bacterial infections and death.

Who May be Affected

  • Health care providers using the normal saline flush syringe
  • All patient groups undergoing procedures involving devices that were cleared out by the normal saline flush syringe

What to Do

On October 5, 2016, Nurse Assist, Inc. sent a certified mail notification to all affected customers. The notice asked customers to:

  • Immediately discontinue the use of any affected products
  • Complete the Medical Device Recall Return response form
  • Return any affected products along with the response form to suppliers via the Returned Goods Authorization provided by Nurse Assist, Inc.
  • For freight collect shipping information, customers should contact the Customer Service Team at 1-800-649-6800 ext. 10.

Contact Information

Customers with questions are instructed to contact Nurse Assist Inc. by telephone at 1-800-649-6800 ext. 10, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8am and 5pm, Central Time. Consumers may also contact the company via email at ProductRemovalInfo@nurseassist.com.

 

Date Recall Initiated:

October 4, 2016

 

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