Possibly Tainted Alcohol Prep Pads, Swabs, Swabsticks Recall

HARTFORD — Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell is advising consumers to check at home for alcohol prep pads, alcohol swabs, and alcohol swabsticks due to a nationwide safety recall.

Recalled products are those that list “Triad Group” on the packaging as the manufacturer, and any swab products packaged with any of the following names: CVS, Walgreens, Cardinal Health, PSS Select, VersaPro, Boca/ Ultilet, Moore Medical, or Conzellin.

“At least two pharmacy chains in Connecticut may have sold alcohol swab products that are now being recalled,” Commissioner Farrell said. “I encourage everyone to check at home and if any of these brands of alcohol swabs are found, return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.”

The manufacturer, Triad Group, and the federal Food and Drug Administration have been alerting health care professionals and patients of the recall, which involves all alcohol prep pads, alcohol swabs, and alcohol swabsticks manufactured by Triad and sold under private labels to consumers at retail stores. The recall is due to concerns about potential contamination of the products with Bacillus cereus. Products marked STERILE and nonsterile products are recalled.

Use of contaminated alcohol prep pads, alcohol swabs, and alcohol swabsticks could lead to life-threatening infections, especially in at-risk populations, including immune suppressed and surgical patients.

Health care 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 at www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm