Alert issued after some chemotherapy treatments contaminated
An alert has been issued about the contamination of some chemotherapy treatments for cancer patients.
The Irish Independent reports that the treatment in question has been recalled after it was found that a manufacturing machine was contaminated with bacteria that could cause serious infections.
Oncologists have been told and patients are being notified.
Its not clear how many patients have been affected by this issue.
Hospitals are reportedly set to begin notifying them today after the company at the centre of the issue wrote to oncologists to say one of its manufacturing machines was contaminated with bacteria that could cause serious and potentially fatal non-gastrointestinal-tract infections.
Chemotherapy patients are particularly vulnerable to infection.
The bacteria involved has been identified as 'bacillus cereus' which is often associated with food poisoning.
The manufacturer is continuing to investigate the matter to see how it happened. It has taken immediate steps to put the machine out of use.
