Infection and the hospital

[rmcginnis]

I just wanted to check with other people to see if you have experienced an infection from expired bags.  My mother-in-law was admitted to the hospital due to a lung issue, however, after moving from ICU to a regular room, they started her back up on her dialysis treatment.  A couple of days into it, she started experiencing very bad abdominal pain.  We noticed that the bags they were using were expired 12 months ago.  She has developed a very bad infection - one that may or may not take her life.  The doctors are saying she has a leak in her bowel, but could this truly be from expired bags?  A family member works at a pharmacuetical co that fills these bags and has said that an expired bag could possible cause an infection because after time, bacteria start to grow inside the bag before it is filled.  It is not the solution that is expired, it is the bag itself.

[billybags]

That is awful, we are told to check the dates every time we do an exchange at home. For a hospital to be using out of date bags is un heard of. If your mother in-law has got an infection and it sounds like she has it will take time to clear up and yes you are very poorly. I would sue! Hope she feels better soon.

[Restorer]

The expiration dates are there both for the time limit of relative sterility and the integrity of the bag materials. After enough time, the small amount of bacteria on the non-sterile surfaces of the bag can make it into the solution and multiply enough to cause problems. Also, the plastic slowly degrades over time, sped up by higher temperatures, and if it breaks down enough it could also cause problems.

[Jean]

Oh, that just sucks!!!!

[looneytunes]

Is this is US hospital?  Can we ask which one?  I'm sure none of us ever want to go there! 

This is just horrible for your mother-in-law.  Even if the infection did not result from the dialysate....inexcusable for a hospital to be using expired bags!

I sure hope she gets along well and improves.

[willowtreewren]

I hope they are able to help your MIL. This is a bad situation. So sorry.

 

Aleta

[*kana*]

How is your MIL doing now?