Potassium Phosphate and Succinylcholine Chloride by PharMEDium Services: Recall - Lack of Sterility Assurance

AUDIENCE: Pharmacy

ISSUE: PharMEDium Services is conducting a limited, voluntary recall due to Hospira Inc.’s (“Hospira”) June 15, 2017 recall announcement that microbial growth was detected during a routine simulation of the manufacturing process and therefore there was a lack of sterility assurance. The products being recalled by PharMEDium Services were compounded using certain Hospira products. The recalled products are specific lots of Potassium Phosphate and Succinylcholine Chloride. This is a secondary recall based on a Hospira's recent recall: https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm563383.htm.

Per Hospira, in the event that impacted product is administered to a patient, there is a reasonable probability that the patient may experience adverse events ranging from fever, chills and malaise, to severe adverse events including systemic invasive mycoses or systemic bacterial sepsis. The possibility of a breach in sterility assurance in distributed product, while remote, cannot be eliminated.

Refer to the recall notice for a list of the recalled lots and product photos.

BACKGROUND: These products were not distributed directly to patients or consumers, but rather to healthcare facilities (e.g. hospitals) in the United States.

RECOMMENDATION: PharMEDium Services is notifying customers of the voluntary recall by phone. Customers that have any of the affected medications that are being recalled should immediately quarantine the product, discontinue use and destroy per their hospital protocol. Customers with any of the affected medications can also reference PharMEDium Services website for more information on the specific lot numbers affected and contact information: www.pharmedium.com.

Patients and healthcare providers with questions regarding this recall can contact PharMEDium Services Clinical Pharmacist at (847) 457-2220, Monday through Friday, between 8am and 5pm Central Standard Time or via e-mail at [email protected].

Patients should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to the use of these products.

Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:

• Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report
• Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

Read the MedWatch safety alert, including link to the Recall notice, at https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm564962.htm