The Medical ID

By Hoey & Farina, P.C.
Personal Injury Lawyers / Wrongful Death Attorneys
1-888-425-1212
info@hoeyfarina.com

In October 2010, a 10 year old Aurora, Colorado boy nearly died from a blood stream infection. In December 2010, a 2 year Houston, Texas boy died from bacterial meningitis. The shocking connection made by researchers at the Aurora Children’s Hospital in Colorado - the Triad alcohol pads used at both hospitals to prevent infections were contaminated with bacillus cereus, a rare bacteria often associated with food poisoning, and necrotizing fasciitis, the “flesh eating disease." The very people the Triad products were supposed to help - children, people with suppressed immune systems and surgical patients – were those most susceptible to the dangerous bacteria.

As early as 2009, the FDA recognized H&P Industries (Triad Group), the manufactures of the Triad alcohol prep pads ("alcohol wipes"), alcohol swabs and Povidine Iodine Prep Pads, had issues with sterilization and contamination at their plant in Hartland, Wisconsin. It was only after the connection was made between the two young victims, however, that H&P Industries / Triad Group issued a voluntary recall of Triad Alcohol Prep Pads, Alcohol Swabs, and Alcohol Swabsticks. In January 2011, the Triad recall was posted by the FDA. (For additional recalls on related products, please visit the FRA’s website. In March 2011, H&P industries, Inc. / Triad Group also issued a recall of their Providine Prep Pads, which uses some of the same raw material as the recalled alcohol wipes, because they were found to be contaminated with another life-threatening bacteria, Elizabethkingia meningoseptic.

These Triad medical products (alcohol wipes, swaps and iodine prep pads) although mostly used by hospitals throughout the United States, are also sold to consumers by CVS, Walgreens and other pharmacies for home use.

Besides Triad and Triad Plus, these products may be under the packaging names of:

• Boca/ Ultilet
• Cardinal Health
• Conzellin
• CVS
• Moore Medical
• PSS Select
• VersaPro
• Walgreens

On April 6, U.S. Marshals seized more than $6 million in medical products made by Triad Group at their plant in Wisconsin. Additionally on that date, Smith & Nephew, Inc., a global distributor of medical supplies made by Triad Group, voluntarily recalled the following products (commonly used by diabetics), citing the potential for contamination with Bacillus cereus:

• NO-STING SKIN-PREP Protective Wipes
• PERI-PREP Protective Wipes
• REMOVE Universal Adhesive Remover Wipes
• SKIN-PREP Protective Wipes
• UNI-SOLVE Adhesive Remover Wipes

If you know of anyone who has suffered from meningitis or necrotizing fasciitis (flesh eating disease) possibly due to a hospitalization or surgery, or after using Triad alcohol wipes, Povidine Prep Pads, or other Triad Group medical products, please call an experienced personal injury lawyer / wrongful death attorney at Hoey & Farina at 1-888-425-1212, or complete this form, for your FREE CONSULTATION. Hoey & Farina represents clients throughout the United States.