Contaminated Alcohol Swabs Shipped with Extavia and Arixtra

The makers of the multiple sclerosis drug Extavia and the deep vein thrombosis (DVT) drug Arixtra are warning that the injectable medications may have been shipped with recently recalled Triad alcohol swabs that could carry microbial contamination. 

Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline join a growing number of drug manufacturers who have had to issue warnings to consumers that they should not use the alcohol swabs that were packaged with their drugs following an alcohol pad and swab recall issued last month by Triad Group.

The latest warnings came for Novartis’s Extavia and Glaxo’s Arixtra. The manufacturers indicate that there are no problems with the actual drugs, but the packaged alcohol prep pads should not be used due to the risk of microbial contamination.

The warnings affect any Triad alcohol prep pads that were included in U.S. packaging for Extavia and any packaged with Arixtra Starter Kits. Consumers should dispose of the pads packaged with these drugs and instead should prepare the injection site either by rubbing the area with sterile gauze and isopropyl alcohol or alcohol prep pads from another manufacturer that are not affected by the Triad recall.

The Triad Group Alcohol prep pad recall was originally announced by the FDA on January 6, 2011. Alcohol pads, swabs and swabsticks were found to be contaminated with Bacillus cereus, which could pose a risk of potentially life-threatening infections. The products were sold individually under a variety of labels, including CVS and Walgreen’s brands, as well as together with a number of different medications.

Bacillus cereus is responsible for about two percent of all foodborne illness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Illness comes within 24 hours after exposure and can result in a diarrheal illness. Serious illness and permanent injury are very rare.

In addition to Extavia and Arixtra, the manufacturers of Relistor, Boniva, Betaseron, the Nutropn A.Q. and several other drugs have also issued warnings that the prep pads shipped with the drugs should not be used.

Extavia (interferon beta-1b) is approved by FDA for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Arixtra (fondaparinux sodium) is approved by FDA for the treatment of DVT or acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in conjunction with warfarin. It is also approved as a prohylaxis of DVT in patients undergoing hip fracture, hip replacement or knee replacement surgery or abdominal surgery.

Consumers undergoing Extavia treatment can call 1-888-669-6682 for more information. Consumers undergoing treatment with Arixtra can call 1-888-825-5249.