FDA investigates deaths after injection at a health centre

File picture[/caption] The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) says it has dispatched a team to Akrade  in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region after three people reportedly died after receiving injection at a health facility. The victims were injected with Benzathine Penicillin at the New Senchi Health Centre about two weeks ago. The FDA said in a statement that it “has become aware of serious adverse reactions described as injection site abscess, skin necrosis and ulcers leading to the deaths of three (3) patients who had injections of Benzathine Penicillin from the New Senchi Health Centre at Akrade in the Asuogyaman District in the Eastern region. These serious adverse reactions were reported during the 3rd week of March 2018. The statement suspected that the solution used for the injection was contaminated. “Preliminary investigations revealed that these reactions may be due to contaminated 0.9% Normal Saline, the solution which was used to reconstitute (mix) the Benzathine Penicillin Powder for Injection. “The 0.9% Normal Saline Solution was reported to have been opened and used repeatedly for several days which might have resulted in the contamination.” Benzathine Penicillin is presented as powder for Injection and should be reconstituted with sterile water for injection and also used immediately to avoid contamination, the statement explained. “The FDA has dispatched the Pharmacovigilance team from the Eastern Regional Office to Akradie to investigate the issue in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service and will keep you updated as more information becomes available,” it said. Meanwhile, healthcare professionals and consumers are being encouraged to be vigilant and report untoward effects of medicines and health products to the FDA by completing adverse reaction reporting forms provided in hospitals and community pharmacies designated as patient safety centres across the country. The FDA can also be contacted through the contacts below: HOTLINES – 0299802932, 0299802933, TOLL FREE NUMBER – 0800151000 (free only on Airtel and Vodafone) SMS SHORTCODE – 4015 Source: 3news.com | Ghana]]>