CDC warns against use of sterile compounds from Franck’s Compounding Lab

As part of a continuing investigation into 33 cases of fungal endophthalmitis across seven states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has told clinicians to avoid use of compounded products labeled as sterile from Franck’s Compounding Lab in Ocala, Fla.

Initially, the investigation looked into nine cases of fungal endophthalmitis at a ambulatory surgical center in California. All patients underwent vitrectomy with epiretinal membrane peeling using brilliant blue G (BBG) dye from Franck’s, according to Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Since then, 11 more cases related to BBG were discovered, along with 13 cases associated with triamcinolone use.

Cultures of unopened bottles and intact syringes of BBG collected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration were found to include multiple bacterial and fungal species, including Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti, which also was found in all available isolates from the seven confirmed cases associated with BBG use, the report said. Testing is continuing for the triamcinolone cases.

Franck’s recalled all lots of BBG dye on March 9 and a single lot of triamcinolone on March 31, according to the report, but it is continuing production of other sterile compounds.

In addition to warning against use of Franck’s products labeled as sterile while the investigation is ongoing, the CDC also urged health care providers to maintain heightened suspicion for infections among patients who received sterile products from Franck’s.