CHICAGO - A leukemia patient has filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer
of a batch of pre-filled syringes that were contaminated with bacteria, claiming
they made her violently sick.
Katie Abrams, 30, of Buffalo Grove, was hospitalized for nine days as a result
of using the syringes at home, according to the complaint filed Friday in state
court.
She "became ill with uncontrollable shaking, vomiting and a fever that reached
as high as 105.5 degrees Fahrenheit (40.8 degrees Celsius)," according to the
lawsuit.
Earlier this month, doctors traced numerous infections to heparin-filled
syringes used during home treatment for cancer and other ailments. About 40
people were sickened in Illinois and Texas.
The syringes, made by Sierra Pre-Filled of Angier, N.C., are used to flush
catheters and intravenous lines.
The bacteria Serratia marcescens was found in a single lot of syringes, which
has been recalled.
Dushyant Patel, president of Sierra Pre-Filled, told The Associated Press on
Saturday he was not aware of the lawsuit and couldn't comment.
Abrams' complaint does not specify a dollar value on damages.
Her lawyer, David Rapoport, said he believes it is the first suit over the
tainted syringes.
Rapoport said his client is recovering and not making public comments about the
lawsuit.
Infections caused by the bacteria could be life-threatening, the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration said in announcing the company's voluntary recall.
Consumers who have the recalled syringes should stop using the product
immediately, the FDA said. The product was distributed to Florida, Texas,
Illinois, Colorado and Pennsylvania.
FDA inspectors found the company failed to have adequate controls for ensuring
sterility of the syringes.
