MIAMI- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been notified of a voluntary recall of over-the-counter oxymetazoline HCl 0.05 percent nasal spray because of intrinsic contamination with Burkholderia cepacia complex. The nasal spray is distributed as "Major Twice-A-Day 12 Hour Nasal Spray." The manufacturer, Propharma Inc., of Miami, has recalled lot No. K4496, released in November 2003, with an expiration date of October 2006.
Preliminary molecular epidemiology indicates that isolates related to the strain found in the nasal spray have been recovered from patients in multiple states. Clinicians should be aware that patients using product from this lot number might have been exposed to B. cepacia complex. Patients with underlying lung disease (especially cystic fibrosis) might be at increased risk for severe infections with B. cepacia complex. Cases of B. cepacia complex infection or colonization associated with use of this product should be reported to the local or state health department and the CDC at (800) 893-0485.
Source: CDC
CDC Urges Vigilance: New Recommendations for Monitoring and Testing H5N1 Exposures
July 11th 2025With avian influenza A(H5N1) infections surfacing in both animals and humans, the CDC has issued updated guidance calling for aggressive monitoring and targeted testing to contain the virus and protect public health.
IP LifeLine: Layoffs and the Evolving Job Market Landscape for Infection Preventionists
July 11th 2025Infection preventionists, once hailed as indispensable during the pandemic, now face a sobering reality: budget pressures, hiring freezes, and layoffs are reshaping the field, leaving many IPs worried about their future and questioning their value within health care organizations.
A Helping Hand: Innovative Approaches to Expanding Hand Hygiene Programs in Acute Care Settings
July 9th 2025Who knew candy, UV lights, and a college kid in scrubs could double hand hygiene adherence? A Pennsylvania hospital’s creative shake-up of its infection prevention program shows that sometimes it takes more than soap to get hands clean—and keep them that way.