Visible mold forces recall of N.J. pharmacy injection drugs

A New Jersey compounding pharmacy has temporarily shuttered operations after Connecticut hospital officials reported finding visible mold in bags of a vital injection drug.

Med Prep Consulting Inc., of Tinton Falls, agreed to stop making and shipping medications Friday after recalling all lots of its magnesium sulfate intravenous solution, the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy announced. The move followed a voluntary consent order that will remain in effect until at least March 22, officials said.

“This investigation is evolving. At this time, in an abundance of caution, the Department of Health recommends that any health care facility that has received products from Med Prep should inventory them and remove them from use,” New Jersey Health Commissioner Mary E. O'Dowd said in a statement.

At least thirteen hospitals in Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania apparently received the firm’s 50-milliliter bags of magnesium sulfate 2 percent in dextrose 5 percent in water, a solution commonly used to replace vital electrolytes in hospitalized patients, according to agency statements.
[link to vitals.nbcnews.com]