US investigates bloodstream infections

Chicago: Health agencies are investigating an outbreak of bloodstream infections in children from four U. S. states that may be linked to heparin and saline syringes made by Becton Dickinson and Co, the agencies told Reuters. The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 14 cases of bloodstream infections in children caused by the same strain of the Serratia marcescens bacterium, the agency’s lead investigator on the outbreak said in a telephone interview. All of the infections occurred in seriously ill children receiving intravenous medications through a catheter or central line, a device used to deliver medications such as chemotherapy. None of the children have died and the number of cases appears to be winding down, the investigator said. Health officials said they began testing the Becton Dickinson products when their investigation found the syringes had been used to treat several of the infected children. Central lines are often flushed with saline or heparin, a blood thinner, to keep them clear. So far, none of the Becton Dickinson products have tested positive for the bacterium. Last month, the company recalled 949 lots of its BD PosiFlush PreFilled Heparin Lock Flush Syringes and Pre- Filled Normal Saline flush syringes sold between February and December 2017 out of “an abundance of caution.” Becton Dickinson said it was cooperating with the U. S. Food and Drug Administration and CDC. “The company immediately initiated an internal investigation after being notified of a potential connection between catheter- related blood stream infections and the Serratia marcescens bacterium,” BD said in a statement.