Hydromorphone HCl Injection, USP 2 mg/mL, and Levophed (Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection, USP) 4 mg/4 mL (1 mg/mL) Vial by Hospira: Recall - Lack of Sterility Assurance

[Posted 09/05/2017]

AUDIENCE: Pharmacy

ISSUE: Hospira is voluntarily recalling one lot of Hydromorphone HCI Injection, USP, CII 2 mg/mL and four lots of Levophed (Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection, USP), 4 mg/4 mL (1 mg/mL) Vial due to a potential lack of sterility assurance resulting from use of a damaged sterilizing filter for nitrogen used in the manufacturing process.

The possibility of a breach in sterility assurance in distributed product, while not confirmed, cannot be eliminated.  No batches of product have been identified as containing microorganisms. To date, Hospira has not received reports of any adverse events associated with this issue for these lots. See the press release for lot numbers recalled. 

In the event that impacted product is administered to a patient, adverse events ranging from fever, chills, and malaise, to severe adverse events such as septicemia, bacterial meningitides and wound infection could occur.

BACKGROUND: Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection, USP, CII is indicated for the relief of moderate to severe pain. Levophed (Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection, USP) is indicated in adults for blood pressure control in certain acute hypotensive states.

RECOMMENDATION: Anyone with an existing inventory of the recalled lots should stop use and distribution and quarantine immediately. Inform Healthcare Professionals in your organization of this recall. If you have further distributed the recalled product, please notify any accounts or additional locations which may have received the recalled product from you. Further, please instruct entities that may have received the recalled product from you that if they redistributed the product, they should notify their accounts, locations or facilities of the recall to the hospital level.

Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:

• Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report
• Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

[08/31/2017 - Press Release - Hospira]