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Possible Mold Contamination Prompts Recall in New Jersey Drugs

By Cheri Cheng | Update Date: Mar 19, 2013 08:32 PM EDT

A New Jersey compounding pharmacy, which supplies drugs throughout the nation is the latest source of possible contamination. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled all of the drugs made by the pharmaceutical company, Med Prep Consulting Inc., expressing concerns over possibly dangerous mold contamination. The drugs include over dozens of antibiotics, pain medications, and drugs made specifically for surgeries and labor. Many of the drugs were distributed to hospitals within the state, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Delaware. Although the exact threat behind the contamination has not been determined, the FDA is taking precautionary measures before thousands of people get sick.

The drugs were manufactured and distributed in infusion bags, plastic syringes and glass vials. The FDA first reported a possible nationwide contamination after the company announced that five bags of magnesium sulfate, a drug used to treat and maintain seizures and premature labor in pregnant women, positively contained mold in a Connecticut hospital.

Although no one has gotten sick from the contamination, Med Prep is the second company within a year to recall their drugs due to contamination. The first case of contamination led to the recall of drugs made by the Massachusetts compound company, New England Compounding Center. The contamination distributed a rare form of meningitis, which killed 50 people and got 720 patients sick throughout the country. Compound pharmacies take the custom formulations of drugs and mix them to create a drug that will meet guidelines.

"We do not have reports of patient infections. However, due to a lack of sterility assurance at the facility and out of an abundance of caution, this recall is necessary to protect patients," the director of the FDA's drug center, Janet Woodcock stated.

All production and shipping have been shut down at the center until more research is found. 

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