NYS Health Department: Contaminated IV Products Suspected In Nursing Home Bloodstream Infections

ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The New York State Department of Health announced Tuesday that it is investigating 34 bloodstream infections that may be associated with intravenous medications or flushes in the New York City area.

The department said it has also learned that 54 long-term care facilities obtained the potentially contaminated IV products from two companies – one of which provides pharmacy services to New York City area nursing homes, and the other of which manufactures medical products such as saline flushes.

The department has notified all 54 nursing homes that may have received the contaminated IV medications or flushes, and has advised them to inform patients that they may have been exposed to harmful bacteria, New York State Dr. Howard Zucker said in a news release.

The facilities were also told not to use certain IV products, the department said.

The infections were caused by Burkholderia cepacia, a bacterium that does not pose a serious medical risk to healthy people, but can cause infections in patients with conditions such as weakened immune systems and chronic lung diseases, the department said.

Bloodstream infections associated with the same products are also being investigated in Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, the department said.