1. Staphaseptic First Aid Antiseptic/Pain Relieving Gel, by Tec Laboratorie
2. Safe4Hours Hand Sanitizing Lotion and Safe4Hours First Aid Antiseptic Skin Protectant, by JD Nelson and Associates
3. Dr. Tichenor’s Antiseptic Gel, by Dr. G.H. Tichenor Antiseptic Co.
4. Clean Well All-Natural Hand Sanitizer, Clean Well All-Natural Hand Sanitizing Wipes, and Clean Well All-Natural Antibacterial Foaming Hand Soap, by Oh So Clean Inc., also known as CleanWell Company.

The FDA is concerned that these products are giving consumers a false sense of protection. Unproven claims found on product labels include, but are not limited to such claims as “kills over 99.9% of MRSA”; “helps prevent skin infections caused by MRSA and other germs”; “is effective against a broad spectrum of pathogens, including MRSA.”

MSRA is a very serious problem. It is a bacterium that can cause severe infections that may become life-threatening. Most troubling is that these infections do not respond to standard treatment with the antibiotic methicillin. According to Edward Cox, M.D., M.P.H., director of the FDA Office of Antimicrobial Products, MRSA is extremely difficult to treat.

TPN is liquid nutrition fed through an IV using a catheter. Use of contaminated products may lead to bacterial infection of the blood.

ADPH requested assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC’s initial investigation identified TPN produced by a single pharmacy, Meds IV, as a potential common source and has determined that these hospitals received TPN from this pharmacy. Affected hospitals are Baptist Princeton, Baptist Shelby, Baptist Prattville, Medical West, Cooper Green Mercy and Select Specialty Hospital in Birmingham.

Meds IV was notified and informed its customers of the possibility of contamination. ADPH has been informed that impacted hospitals immediately stopped using TPN received from this pharmacy and that the pharmacy discontinued all production. On March 24, Meds IV recalled all of its IV compounded products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is aware of the voluntary recall. The pharmacy and the hospitals are cooperating with the investigation.

At this time, ADPH is aware of 19 cases in these six hospitals of Serratia marcescens bacteremia related to this outbreak.

ADPH will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Product List

• Bronch Procedure Kit
• Bupivacaine Epidural Bag
• Cardioplegia Solutions
• Cefazolin 2 gm Syringe
• Dialysate Solution
• Fentanyl /Ropivacaine Epidural Bag
• Fentanyl/ Bupivacaine Epidural Bag
• Folic Acid 1mg/0.2ml Syringe
• Glycopyrrolate 0.2mg/ml 1ml in 3ml Syringe
• Heparin IV Bags
• Hydromorphone Intravia Bag
• Hydromorphone PCA Syringe
• Ketamine Syringe
• Labetalol syringe
• Lorazepam 2mg/ml syr
• Meperidine 10mg/100ml NS(Intravia Bag)
• Morphine 1mg/ml PCA 100ml Intravia Bag
• Neostigmine 3mg Syringe
• Nitroglycerin IV Bag
• Nitroglycerin Syringe
• Norepinehrine IV Bag
• Oxytocin Bags
• Sodium Chl 23.4% (4meq/ml) 10ml Syr
• Succinylcholine 20mg/ml 5ml Syringe
• TPN Solution
• Vancomycin IV Bag

Six hospitals are currently involved in this Alabama serratia marcescens investigation. They include Select Specialty, Baptist Princeton, Baptist Shelby, Medical West,Cooper Green and Baptist Prattville. The Alabama Department of Public Health is aware of the Serratia marcescens associated illnesses. The IV fluid bags were produced by Meds IV out of Birmingham, Alabama. The company has since notified its customers of the potential problems and has discontinued production.

S. marcescens is a bacteria that grows well in moist environments. In rare instances, individuals who develop infections associated with S. marcescens can develop endocarditis, osteomyelitis, pneumonia, or meningitis.

Public officials told NBC News that the 18-wheeler sideswiped one school bus and hit another head-on, though an official report has not been released.

The buses were transporting high school seniors from Choctaw County, Mississippi on a class trip to Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi.  Two teachers and the driver of the 18 wheeler are believed to have been killed in the wreck.

Arsenault and a partner in his law firm, JR Whaley, are among a group of approximately 30 lawyers who are moving their clients’ claims through the oil spill fund.

“Justice delayed is justice denied,” Arsenault told the Journal’s Dionne Searcy.
The fund, which is administered by Ken Fienberg , and was set up by BP and the Obama administration, has already paid out $3.35 billion dollars to victims of the spill.

Victims of the oil spill are now deciding whether to opt for potentially quicker compensation through the oil spill fund, or to take their claims through the court system. Victims who seek compensation through the oil spill fund will be barred from filing a lawsuit, and may forfeit future damages that may be awarded by a court.

For many victims, waiting for a courtroom decision may not be possible. Daniel Becnel, a lawyer in Arsenault’s group, explained that many victims need compensation now to avert financial ruin and may not be capable of waiting for a result through litigation.

The cause of the crash in under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, FAA and Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The CPSC says that new crib standards will assuredly reduce the number of injuries and deaths associated with cribs. The new standards, hailed a “the strongest in the world,” will demand tougher safety testing and better labeling aimed to reduce instances of crib misassembly.

Having represented a family who lost an infant in a drop-side crib, we know firsthand the damage and trauma these dangerous cribs pose. Kudos to the CPSC for taking this bold step to help protect other families from this senseless tragedy.

The accident happened approximately 20 miles southeast of New Orleans on Louisiana Delta Oil Co.’s Grosse Tete work-over rig.

The gas well was inactive at the time of the fire, and the Coast Guard is not reporting pollution at this time.

The FDA has determined that the drugs’ benefits do not outweigh the serious risks associated with the medications’ side effects, which include heart rhythm abnormalities. Even when taken at recommended doses by healthy patients, the propoxyphene in Darvon and Darvocet can still cause changes in the electrical activity of the heart that can cause serious problems, including sudden death.

Darvon was first introduced to the US market in 1957. However, concerns over the drug’s serious side effects led consumer group, Public Citizen, to petition the FDA in 1978 and 2006 to remove the drug from the market. Darvon and Darvocet have been banned in the UK since 2005, and were banned in Europe over a year ago. Public Citizen estimates that as many as 1,000-2,000 US deaths have been linked to Darvon and/or Darvocet since the drugs were banned in England over 6 years ago.

Our drug injury lawyers know firsthand the pain and suffering that can be caused by unsafe pharmaceuticals. Our firm represented hundreds of Vioxx victims, and our senior partner, Richard J. Arsenault, played a central role in the national litigation against Merck. We’ve been working hard for victims of dangerous drugs for nearly thirty years, and are currently investigating claims on behalf of victims of Darvon, Darvocet and generic propoxyphene painkillers.

The Splendor departed from Long Beach, California on Sunday for a seven day Mexican cruise, including stops in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.  However, on Monday, an early morning fire in the ship’s engine room knocked out the ship’s power.   Now, instead of enjoying a Mexican getaway, passengers are stranded aboard a disabled ship that is running low on food and is without air conditioning and hot water. Powerless to move itself, the Splendor is now depending on tugboats to pull it back to California, and passengers are along for the ride.

Carnival will be refunding the passengers’ tickets and offering them discounts and vouchers toward their next cruise.

Cruise ship accidents are rare, but they do occur. In 2006, 50 passengers were injured, some severely, when their cruise ship abruptly swayed portside.  Also in 2006, 11 were injured and one was killed when a cruise ship caught fire between Grand Cayman and Jamaica. In 2007, a ship with more than 1500 people aboard sank after hitting rocks, two people died in the accident. Last May, a machine room fire caused 607 people to evacuate a ship off Norway’s coast.

Some Admiralty Laws in place today that govern injuries and accidents on the high-seas are linked back to arguably the most famous ship accident in history – the sinking of the Titanic.  The sinking of the “unsinkable” ship and large number of fatalities associated with the disaster focused America’s attention on the need for legislation to enable victims to seek recovery for injuries and deaths that occur on the high seas. In 1920, the US Congress adopted the Death on the High Seas Act and the Merchant Marine Act, more commonly known as the Jones Act.

Earlier this year, DePuy Orthpaedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson, initiated a worldwide recall of its ASR hip replacement products because of higher-than-expected failure rates. It has been reported that 1 in 8 patients implanted with the recalled hip systems will have to undergo revision surgery within 5 years. A veteran of complex and class action litigation, Arsenault is a frequent speaker and chair of legal conferences. Arsenault’s firm has filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson DePuy and continues to investigate other claims against the makers of the recalled ASR hip replacement systems.

According to the lawsuit, because of improper natural gas drilling activities by the defendents, methane, ethane, barium and other harmful substances were allowed to enter and contaminate the victim’s water supply. In the lawsuit, the victim claims that she suffers dermatitis, gastrointestinal discomfort, barium poisoning, pain, numbness to her face and hands, deformities of the bones of her hands, headache, and other injuries due to exposure to harmful substances. Additionally, the suit alleges that the value of her property has diminished, she has lost the use and enjoyment of her property, and has suffered a drop in the quality of life she otherwise enjoyed.

The lawsuit seeks to bar the defendants from continuing to engage in these practices, and seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages and the cost of future health monitoring for the victim.

Neblett, Beard & Arsenault is experienced in handling environmental lawsuits, having worked hard for victims of numerous oil and gas operations across Louisiana and the nation, including this year’s devastating Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The firm continues to investigate claims in Pennsylvania and across the country associated with natural gas drilling and the controversial “hydrofracking” process.

Entrapment and strangulation can occur, especially to infants younger than 12 months of age, when a child is not harnessed. An infant can pass through the opening between the stroller tray and seat bottom, but his/her head and neck can become entrapped by the tray. Infants who become entrapped at the neck are at risk of strangulation.

The recall involves older versions of the Graco Quattro Tour™ and MetroLite™ strollers and travel systems manufactured prior to the existence of the January 2008 voluntary industry standard which addresses the height of the opening between the stroller’s tray and the seat bottom. This voluntary standard requires larger stroller openings that prevent infant entrapment and strangulation hazards.

This recall involves Graco Quattro Tour™ strollers and travel systems manufactured prior to November 2006 and MetroLite™ strollers and travel systems manufactured prior to July 2007. The strollers and travel systems were distributed between November 2000 and December 2007. The model numbers are printed on a label at the lower portion of the rear frame, just above the rear wheels or underneath the stroller. The name “Graco” appears on a label on the stroller tray and the headrest. Models included in the recall are:

Quattro Stroller
$100-$190
Distributed Between
Nov 2002 – Dec 2007

Model Numbers: 35735, 35759, 7111ASB, 7111BKW, 7111CLN, 7111CUN, 7111DIA, 7111HEA, 7111HIG, 7111LAG, 7111KSH, 7112CNP, 7112MTR, 7113CJR, 7113CMR, 7113COT, 7119GGG, 7119WSR, 7121MAY, 7125QST, 7126RNS, 7127LEG, 7132RXY, 7134SMB, 7138RNS

Quattro Stroller Travel System
$200-$250
Distributed Between
Oct 2002 – Oct 2007

Model Numbers: 35760, 7411ATR, 7411BGN, 7411BGN2, 7411BLB, 7411KBK, 7411KBK2, 7411LV, 7411MCH, 7411MCH2, 7411MLY, 7411MLY2, 7419LIM, 7419LIM2, 7419OWD2, 7B00BDA, 7B00DRB, 7B00KAS, 7B01MNS, 7B03CST2, 7B03LTC2, 7B03TFE2

MetroLite Stroller
$90-$190
Distributed Between
Nov 2000 – Dec 2007

Model Numbers:1104, 1240, 6110DW, 6110F3, 6110S7, 6110TS7, 6111FKB, 6111VIN, 6113SCR, 6114HAV, 6114JAM, 6114LAG, 6114NGS, 6116NRF, 6120SHL, 6121CJG, 6121CNP, 6121GGG, 6121MTR, 6123EME, 6124LRD, 6125SMB, 6J01DAI, 6J01HRL, 6J03RIT, 6J04JEN, 6J05MIN

MetroLite Travel System
$190-$250
Distributed Between
Dec 2000 – June 2005

Model Numbers: 1070, 7000KSB, 7308DEL, 7308DEL2, 7308DEL4, 7308TYR, 7308TYR2, 7406PLT, 7408MRT, 7409GRG, 7410CON, 7413CML, 7413MRN, C7413CML

Quattro and MetroLite strollers ending with the number 3 are NOT affected by this recall.

The strollers were sold at AAFES, Babies R Us, Burlington Coat Factory, Fred Meyer, Kmart, Meijers, Navy Exchange, Sears, Target, Walmart and other stores nationwide between November 2000 and December 2007 for between $90 and $190 for the strollers, and between $190 and $250 for travel systems.

The 2002 recall, which was expanded in 2006, was announced after Black & Decker and the CPSC received numerous reports of the cordless lawn mowers’ engine overheating and causing a fire hazard. This time, 160,000 Black & Decker and Craftsman brand cordless lawnmowers are being recalled because the mower’s motor and blade can unexpectedly turn on after the mower’s safety key is removed, posing a laceration hazard to consumers. Black & Decker has received 34 reports of the motor operating after removal of the safety key, including two incidents that resulted in finger lacerations.

The recalled cordless electric mowers were sold in home centers, hardware and discount stores under both the Black & Decker and Craftsman brand names. The recalled Black & Decker mowers have model number CMM1000 or CMM1000R. All date codes and types are included in the recall. The date code and type information are both located on a silver and black label affixed to the rear door of the mower.

The Black & Decker mowers have either an orange or green deck with a black motor cover. The Craftsman-brand mowers have model number 900.370520 and the recall include all date codes and types. The model number is located on the silver and black label affixed to the rear door of the mower. The Craftsman-brand mowers have a dark green deck with a black motor cover.

The CPSC is urging customers to stop using the recalled lawnmowers immediately.

Most of the infants suffocated after rolling from a side to stomach position. In addition to the reported deaths, CPSC has received dozens of reports of infants who were placed on their backs or sides in sleep positioners, only to be found later in potentially hazardous positions within or next to the sleep positioners. The two main types of infant sleep positioners are flat mats with side bolsters or inclined (wedge) mats with side bolsters.

The CPSC has posted this warning on its website:

* STOP using sleep positioners. Using a positioner to hold an infant on his or her back or side for sleep is dangerous and unnecessary.
* NEVER put pillows, infant sleep positioners, comforters, or quilts under a baby or in a crib.
* ALWAYS place an infant on his or her back at night and during nap time. To reduce the risk of SIDS, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends placing infants to sleep on their backs and not their sides.

The lawyers are Neblett, Beard & Arsenault are currently investigating claims against manufacturers of faulty or defective childrens’ products.  We have worked hard for families whose infants and children have been injured or killed as a result of defective products, and are closely following this recent warning from the FDA & CPSC.  We will updated this information as it becomes available. Stay tuned.