WebMD News from HealthDay
Jan. 15, 2015 -- Unsterile intravenous fluids were mistakenly given to at least 40 patients, resulting in numerous hospitalizations and one death, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.
Instead of sterile saline solution normally given to patients, these people received unsterilized "simulated" intravenous fluids meant for training only, USA Today reported.
Many of the patients who received the unsterilized fluids developed fevers, chills, headaches and tremors almost immediately, and an unspecified number of them were hospitalized.
The bags of simulated saline were recalled Jan. 7 by Wallcur of San Diego after the company said it learned that the products were "not used for their intended purpose," USA Today reported.
In order to ease shortages of saline solution in the United States, the FDA has allowed companies to import bags of intravenous saline from Europe.
source : At Least 40 Mistakenly Given Unsterile IV Fluid
