CONTAMINATION FORCES RECALL OF HAND SANITIZERS

WASHINGTON, June 10 -- A line of skin care products -- including some hand sanitizers -- was voluntarily recalled after FDA inspectors discovered high levels of disease-causing bacteria in them, according to the agency.

Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory, based in Roy, Utah, said the recall covers all Clarcon products.
The FDA said its analyses of several samples of over-the-counter topical antimicrobial skin sanitizer and skin protectant products revealed high levels of various bacteria, including some associated with unsanitary conditions.

According to the FDA warning, some of the bacteria identified in the products can "cause opportunistic infections of the skin and underlying tissues. Such infections may need medical or surgical attention, and may result in permanent damage."

The inspection findings, the FDA said, were "particularly concerning because the products are promoted as antimicrobial agents that claim to treat open wounds, damaged skin, and protect against various infectious diseases."

The agency said the inspection also uncovered serious deviations from current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements.
The FDA released this list of products covered by the recall:
• Citrushield Lotion
• Dermassentials DermaBarrier
• Dermassentials by Clarcon Antimicrobial Hand Sanitizer
• Iron Fist Barrier Hand Treatment
• Skin Shield Restaurant
• Skin Shield Industrial
• Skin Shield Beauty Salon Lotion
• Total Skin Care Beauty
• Total Skin Care Work
From MedPage Today


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Women Still Drinking During Pregnancy

Despite the Surgeon General's warning that alcohol can affect unborn children, pregnant women haven't changed their drinking habits much over the past two decades, the CDC saidAbout 40% of women realize they're pregnant at four weeks' gestation, a critical period for fetal organ development,

The U.S. Surgeon General has consistently advised women against drinking alcohol during pregnancy. National prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome is about 0.5 to 2.0 cases per 1,000 births, but the other fetal alcohol spectrum disorders occur about three times as often, the researchers said.

Women with the highest rates of drinking during pregnancy were older, college graduates, employed, and unmarried.

Between 2001 and 2005, 17.7% of pregnant women ages 35 to 44 reported having at least one drink in the past 30 days, compared with 8.6% of women ages 18 to 24.

While it's not well understood why drinking habits differ across certain aspects of social status, the researchers had a few possible explanations. It could be that older women may be more alcohol dependent and have more difficulty abstaining from alcohol while pregnant, they speculated. Also, they said, more-educated women and employed women might have more discretionary money to spend on alcohol. And unmarried women might attend more social occasions where alcohol is served, the researchers said. They emphasized that healthcare providers should routinely ask women of childbearing age about their alcohol use and inform them of the risks of drinking during pregnancy.

Alcohol use levels before pregnancy are a strong predictor of alcohol use during pregnancy, the researchers said. Many women who use alcohol continue to do so during the early weeks of gestation because they don't realize they're pregnant, as about half of all births are unplanned.

Denny CH, et al "Alcohol use among pregnant and nonpregnant women of childbearing age -- U.S., 1991 -- 2005 MMWR 2009; 58(19): 529-32

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
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