House wants answers from VA on dirty devices

Search

Topics

Uncategorized

Links
- FDA

Case Review Form

* Denotes required field.

Title

* First Name

* Last Name

* Email Address

* Phone Number

Cell Phone Number

Office Phone Number

Street Address

Apartment/Suite

City

State

Zip Code

Please provide the best method and times to contact you:

Date of birth of injured person
(mm-dd-yyyy):

Name of medical device:

Please describe any problems or injuries caused by the device:

Other Info:

No Yes, I agree to the Parker & Waichman, LLP disclaimers.Click here to review all.

Yes, I would like to receive the Parker & Waichman, LLP monthly newsletter, InjuryAlert.

Archives

Latest Medical Device News

Abiomed AB5000 Circulatory Support System: Class I Recall - Device computer may shut down without an alarm, which can lead to serious injuries or death.
Avandia (rosiglitazone): Ongoing Review of Cardiovascular Safety - FDA is reviewing data from a large, long-term clinical study on possible risks for cardiovascular outcomes associated with use of rosiglitazone.
BD Q-Syte Luer Access Devices: Recall - Device may cause an air embolism or leakage of blood and/or therapy, which may result in serious injury or death.
Baxter HomeChoice and HomeChoice PRO Automated Peritoneal Dialysis Systems: Class I Recall - Reports of serious injuries and at least one death have been associated with increased Intraperitoneal Volume (IIPV), also known as overfill of the abdominal cavity.
Cardiac Science Automated External Defibrillators (Powerheart, Cardiovive, CardioLife, NK, Responder models): Class I Recall - UPDATED 03/08/2010: Recall classified as Class I, expanded list of affected models. Originally posted 02/09/2010
Ear Candles: Risk of Serious Injuries - Consumers warned not to use ear candles because they can cause serious injuries, even when used according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Edwards Lifesciences Aquarius Hemodialysis System: Recall - Clinically significant fluid imbalance and potential for users to repeatedly override the fluid imbalance alarm.
Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents (ESAs): Procrit, Epogen and Aranesp: Drug Safety Communication - FDA requires REMS that ensures that only those hospitals and healthcare professionals who have enrolled and completed training in risk management program will prescribe and dispense ESAs to patients with cancer.
Exjade (deferasirox): Boxed Warning - Changes to Prescribing Information re: risk of renal impairment/failure, hepatic impairment/failure or gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
Invirase (saquinavir): Ongoing safety review of clinical trial data - Possible association with abnormal heart rhythms when used in combination with Norvir (ritonavir).
Long-Acting Beta-Agonists (LABAs): New Safe Use Requirements - FDA requires risk management plan and class-labeling changes for all LABAs.
Maalox Total Relief and Maalox Liquid Products: Medication Use Errors - Consumers who have a history of gastrointestinal ulcers or a bleeding disorder should not use Maalox Total Relief because it contains bismuth subsalicylate, a substance chemically related to aspirin.
OneTouch SureStep Test Strips (LifeScan): Recall - Test strips are being recalled because they may provide falsely low glucose results when the glucose level is higher than 400 mg/dL.
Safesheath CSG Coronary Sinus Guide Hemostatic Introducer System with Infusion Sideport by Thomas Medical - Sheath tip may break off and separate while the sheath is inside a blood vessel, leading to serious injury or death.
StatSpin Express 4 Centrifuges Model 510: Class I Recall - Rotor may break and eject pieces of the rotor which may cause serious physical injury to bystanders and expose them to blood-borne infectious micro-organisms.
Thomas Medical Products, Inc., Transseptal Sheath Introducer Kits: Class I Recall - Sheath tip may break off and separate during heart procedures, causing a blockage that could lead to permanent injury and/or death.
Tysabri (Natalizumab): Update of Healthcare Professional Information - Risk of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) increases with increasing duration of exposure to Tysabri.
Videx/Videx EC (didanosine): Labeling Revision - Risk of Non-Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension - Risk information added to Warnings/Precautions section and data summary provided
WinRho SDF (Rho(D) Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human): Risk of Intravascular Hemolysis - Cases of intravascular hemolysis and its complications have been reported in patients treated for immune thrombocytopenic purpura with WinRho.
Zyprexa (olanzapine): Use in Adolescents - Clinicians should consider the potential long-term risks when prescribing to adolescents.

House wants answers from VA on dirty devices

June 16th, 2009 joshua

The U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs wants to know if the potential contamination of more than 10,000 former soldiers with HIV or hepatitis is part of larger problem with cleaning or re-using medical devices.

Several months ago it was learned that poor cleanliness habits at VA hospitals in Miami, Tennessee and Georgia - specifically in the use of dirty testing devices and colonoscopy equipment - could have given more than 10,000 patients treated there one of those serious diseases.

The House committee wants to know if these sterilization habits are commonplace at VA hospitals around the country, and just how many more former soldiers could have contracted those, or other ailments.

The VA said other facilities have struggled with contamination, but none of the reports warranted follow-up tests, as was the case with soldiers at those three Southeastern hospitals.

At least six patients of those Southeastern facilities have tested positive for HIV after receiving colonoscopies or endoscopies since 2003.

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.