Contaminated stem cells blamed in patient infections

NEW YORK — Health officials on Thursday reported an outbreak of bacterial infections in people who got injections of stems cells derived from umbilical cord blood.

At least 12 patients in Florida, Texas and Arizona became infected after getting injections for problems like joint and back pain, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. All 12 were hospitalized, three for a month or longer.

Investigators don’t think the contamination occurred at the clinics where the shots were given, because they found bacteria in unopened vials provided by the distributor, Yorba Linda, California-based Liveyon.

Liveyon recalled the stem cells in October.

Last month, the Food and Drug Administration sent a warning to Genetech, the small San Diego company that processed the stem cells. The FDA said the company should not market the stem cells without regulators’ approval.

Stem cells are very young and can develop into specialized cells, like blood cells, bone cells and brain cells. The cells are being studied as a potential way to treat many diseases and are currently approved for a handful of medical procedures. In recent years, hundreds of private clinics have opened promoting their use for diseases in which there is little evidence they are safe or effective.