Ceftazidime antibiotic concentration may deteriorate if stored at the wrong temperature
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has launched a medical device alert over the test disc for the antibiotic ‘Ceftazidime’, warning that storing the test discs at the wrong temperature can increase the chances of false resistance results.
The antibiotic is used to treat all sorts of bacterial infections including joint infections, sepsis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections and more. In cases where the Ceftazidime test disc was not frozen between the temperatures of +2o and -20o, notably at +8o, the antibiotic’s shelf-life may have been degraded.
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Demands for fidget spinners to be recalled over allegations of toxic lead contamination
Major retailer, Target Corporation, has recalled two of their popular fidget-spinners over reports that they contain excessive levels of toxic lead.
The heavy metal is poisonous and can cause symptoms through exposure like stomach pains, headaches, constipation, irritability, memory problems, and tingling in the hands and feet
The brain is particularly sensitive to lead exposure, and in serious cases, exposure can cause seizures, coma and even death. Survivors of lead poisoning may become anaemic and infertile
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Colgate-Palmolive settles lawsuit over its talc-based products “containing Asbestos”
Colgate-Palmolive has agreed to settle a lawsuit over claims that a claimant developed cancer after using their talcum powder products.
Carol Schoeniger reportedly developed Mesothelioma, which is a rare and fatal form of cancer that is known to be caused by asbestos exposure. This exposure allegedly came from the talc-based products she was using that reportedly contained Asbestos.
The settlement sum was not disclosed, which may have been an effort to defer others from claiming the same, but the pay-out is likely to have been significant.
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80% of baby formula reportedly contains arsenic!
Scientific studies into baby food have allegedly found that a shockingly high-level of baby formulas tested contained arsenic.
To be precise, some 80%!
Arsenic poisoning is extremely serious as it can attack the blood cells and can be fatal. For a baby or an infant, the thought of them ingesting arsenic is literally horrifying. Not-for-profit organisation The Clean Label Project believes that the labelling of food and products should be completely transparent, and it was this organisation that reportedly tested a variety of baby foods, formulas, drinks and snacks for toddlers to see just what they contained.
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Thousands of patients sue 3M for allegedly causing infections
Over 4,000 patients reportedly contracted serious infections after using 3M’s warm air blower blanket post-operation that has allegedly deposited infectious bacteria into their incisions.
Most of the patients reportedly underwent joint surgery and used the blanket to keep warm during the procedure. The deep-joint infections have reportedly caused septic arthritis in some cases. The inflammation of a joint through infection can be very painful and cause swelling, requiring treatment with anti-biotics.
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Rivaroxaban recalled over rogue blister strips of reduced strength tablets
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) has announced a recall over Xarelto 20mg film-coated tablets made by Strathclyde Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Better known as Rivaroxaban, the tablets are packaged into blister strips with the weight labelled on one side.
A batch is reportedly affected by the recall following reports of rogue blister strips carrying 15mg tablets finding their way into the twin pack 20mg tablets.
The batch number in question is BXHHDR1, due to expire in September 2019. The 28-tablet packets were reportedly first distributed on 18th September 2017.
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MHRA issues warning for Gentamicin Sulphate Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient over increased levels of histamine
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued an alert over batches of Gentamicin Sulphate Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) for trace contamination of histamine.
The situation is reportedly not serious enough to warrant a recall.
Gentamicin is a bactericidal used an as active ingredient for antibiotics. The MHRA was made aware that testing of the finished products has uncovered higher levels of histamine than expected. The unwanted histamine is thought to be a residual from the manufacturing process, with the potentially affected range between July 2014 and June 2017.
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Hypoallergenic moisturisers may contain toxic chemicals
A recent scientific study found that a number of moisturisers marketed as “hypoallergenic” may not actually be so hypoallergenic in reality.
A medical journal reportedly discovered that some products labelled as “fragrance free” or “hypoallergenic”, which should therefore be suitable for people suffering from sensitive skin or skin conditions like eczema, may still carry toxic chemicals that irritate the skin.
This surely goes against the whole idea of such products in the first place.
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U.S. Metro ventilation records may have been falsified
Lawsuits are expected to be brought against the U.S. Metro system over reportedly “deadly smoke” choking dozens back in 2015 at L’Enfant Plaza.
An internal review found that four important maintenance records for the transport ventilation systems may have been tampered with; a discovery prompting investigations into the department’s documentation practices.
An internal report confirmed that the office of Quality Assurance, Internal Compliance and Oversight (QICO) “identified several instances of maintenance record modification.”
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Regulators say Tesla Autopilot to take partial blame for fatal 2016 crash
Investigators have suggested that Tesla’s auto-driving system is to take some of the blame for a fatal 2016 crash. They have recommended that the ‘Tesla Autopilot’ system be declared as a contributing factor in the tragic incident because it allowed the driver to go for long periods of time without looking at the road or taking control with the steering.
This news may serve as a stumbling block with the U.K. set to allow for autonomous vehicles to be on the roads in the next few years. Are they safe? What are the dangers? Who is liable if things go wrong? These are questions that need answering before such technology is allowed on our very busy roads.
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