Bacterial Contamination of TPN Bags Under Investigation
Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 506
Contaminated intravenous feeding bags used for hospital patients receiving TPN (total parenteral nutrition) are the focus of an investigation by the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control. An infection outbreak in hospitals among patients receiving TPN was disclosed March 16.
TPN produced by an Alabama pharmacy, Meds IV, has been identified as a potential common source.
At this point, six hospitals are identified as receiving TPN from this source, Baptist Princeton, Baptist Shelby, Baptist Prattville, Medical West, Cooper Green Mercy, and Select Specialty Hospital.
Nine deaths have been reported of patients who have received TPN produced by Meds IV.
Serratia marcescens bacteria was found initially in the patients, and then in the TPN. The affected hospitals have stopped using TPN produced by Meds IV, and Meds IV has informed the Alabama Department of Public Health that it has discontinued all TPN production, and recalled all of its IV products.