HSE: No patients given at-risk chemo after recall

The HSE has said that no patient received potentially contaminated chemotherapy after it issued a recall last Monday.

The potentially contaminated chemotherapy was used in the treatment of cancer patients during the period October 2-9 only.

A cancer patient told RTÉ’s Liveline on Friday that she had been advised last Thursday that she might have been treated with contaminated product the previous day.

However, the HSE said it wished to “categorically refute” reports that patients had received the chemotherapy last Wednesday.

“Once the HSE became aware of the situation, on Monday, October 12, immediate and coordinated action was undertaken by all oncology teams throughout the country to contact all 200 patients concerned.”

Warning to 200 patients of chemotherapy drug risk, reports @EvelynRing http://t.co/pkzdIuGDdu (RMC) pic.twitter.com/x8ejAfNY5V

— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) October 17, 2015

The health authority said all patients and/or their families were informed of the situation throughout the next number of days.

All patients were informed that the batch related to one period only — October 2 to October 9.

The alert was raised after Fanning Compounding in Dublin found that there was bacteria in one of its chemotherapy isolators, a machine used in the manufacturing process.

The bacteria — bacillus cereus, which can cause serious gastrointestinal infections — was discovered during routine testing.

Cancer patients are at particular risk of becoming ill, as their immune systems are low.

The HSE said that, of the 200 patients involved, 187 were receiving treatment from public or publicly funded hospitals.

All 187 patients, and/or their families, were contacted throughout the week.

The HSE said it realised that some patients receiving chemotherapy outside the identified group might have concerns that they, too, had received the potentially contaminated drug.

“The HSE wishes to assure these patients, if they have not been contacted by a member of their oncology team at this juncture, that they have not been treated with the chemotherapy in question,” it stated.

The HSE again apologised to all of the patients and their families for the distress the incident had caused.

It said it was working closely with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), and the supplier, to avoid such incidents in the future.

“Should any patient or family member require further information or reassurance, please contact your local oncology unit,” the HSE advised.

It was the third recall of potentially contaminated products from Fannin Compounding in the last six months.

Previous recalls were precautionary and no contamination was found.

The HPRA said the latest precautionary recall was undertaken after an assessment of the manufacturing process, using a test product. As a precaution, all chemotherapy medicines manufactured from September 29 were recalled.

The Irish Cancer Society said it had been in touch with the HSE and was continuing to monitor the situation closely.

“Anything which has an adverse effect on cancer patients, and causes anxiety to patients and their families, is of paramount concern to the society,” it said.

Irish Cancer Society freephone: 1800 200 700.