FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Mary McIntyre, M.D., M.P.H., (334) 206-5325

The Alabama Department of Public Health today is announcing an ongoing investigation of an outbreak of Serratia marcescens bacteremia in six Alabama hospitals. On March 16, ADPH was notified that an outbreak had occurred in two of these hospitals among patients receiving TPN (total parenteral nutrition).

TPN is liquid nutrition fed through an IV using a catheter. Use of contaminated products may lead to bacterial infection of the blood.

ADPH  requested assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC's initial investigation identified TPN produced by a single pharmacy, Meds IV, as a potential common source and has determined that these hospitals received TPN from this pharmacy. Affected hospitals are Baptist Princeton, Baptist Shelby, Baptist Prattville, Medical West, Cooper Green Mercy and Select Specialty Hospital in Birmingham.

Meds IV was notified and informed its customers of the possibility of contamination. ADPH has been informed that impacted hospitals immediately stopped using TPN received from this pharmacy and that the pharmacy discontinued all production. On March 24, Meds IV recalled all of its IV compounded products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is aware of the voluntary recall. The pharmacy and the hospitals are cooperating with the investigation.

At this time, ADPH is aware of 19 cases in these six hospitals of Serratia marcescens bacteremia related to this outbreak.

ADPH will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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3/29/11