Officials Link Multi-State Outbreak To Saline Flushes: New Jersey Patients Affected

Patients and health care providers who use pre-filled saline flushes in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland should be aware of a multi-state outbreak of B. cepacia, authorities announced Tuesday.

According to a joint news release, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy, the New Jersey Department of Health and other state health departments are investigating a “multistate outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia (B. cepacia) bloodstream infections possibly associated with pre-filled saline flushes.”

Officials at the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) stated the agency was notified last week by the Pennsylvania and Maryland Departments of Health about clusters of bloodstream infections in these states in patients in long-term care facilities who have histories of receiving medications via central lines.

“There is concern that these infections are due to a contaminated source, specifically pre-filled saline flushes from Nurse Assist (Haltom City, Texas),” authorities stated.

All long term care facilities that received this product were contacted by the NJDOH on Sept. 30 and told to discontinue using the products and set aside until further notice, officials said.

“However, since this is a rapidly evolving situation, not all distribution networks have been identified, and it is unclear at this time that all the affected products have been identified,” officials added.

The NJDOH is recommending that any health care facilities, providers or “anyone else who has received Nurse Assist pre-filled saline flushes” immediately discontinue use and sequester these products until further notice.

While the investigation is ongoing, the NJDOH has so far identified two New Jersey cases associated with this outbreak. The joint news release didn’t specify the locations of the two alleged cases.

WHAT IS B. CEPACIA?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states on its website that B. cepacia refers to a group of bacteria that can be found in soil and water that are often resistant to common antibiotics.

“B. cepacia poses little medical risk to healthy people,” the CDC states. “However, people who have certain health problems like weakened immune systems or chronic lung diseases, particularly cystic fibrosisExternal Web Site Icon, may be more susceptible to infections with B. cepacia. B cepacia is a known cause of infections in hospitalized patients.”

The effects of B. cepacia on people vary widely, ranging from no symptoms at all to serious respiratory infections, especially in patients with cystic fibrosis, according to the CDC.

Photo: CDC.gov

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