A fungal infection in a premature baby prompted Solgar® to recall its ABC Dophilus® Powder, a probiotic sold as a dietary supplement for babies and children. The product can be purchased over the counter for use at home and is also used in some hospitals. Several medical studies found that probiotics may prevent necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), an inflammation and necrosis (death of tissue) of the bowel.1
Premature Baby Dies after Consuming ABC Dophilus
At least one premature baby has died after being given ABC Dophilus Powder at a hospital. The baby’s death was associated with a fungal infection in the intestines, specifically mucormycosis caused by the fungus Rhizopus oryzae.
ABC Dophilus was used as part of the in-hospital course of treatment for a very preterm infant (<32 week gestation) who suffered from multiple complications, including intestinal mucormycosis, and died on October 11, 2014 (Solgar Press Release on FDA site).
Cases involving injured premature infants are highly complex. The children involved are already at risk for a variety of medical conditions and often have significant underlying health conditions. Proving a personal injury or wrongful death case for a premature infant therefore requires medical and scientific expertise in an array of disciplines ranging from neonatology and pediatric gastroenterology to epidemiology and genetics. For this reason, our lawyers have spent years developing a strong background in these areas and cultivating relationships with world-class experts.
“We pride ourselves on using every available scientific and technological tool to fight for our clients,” said Fred Pritzker, a lead lawyer for our infectious disease litigation group known as the Bad Bug Law Team®. “Premature infants are our society’s most vulnerable people. They deserve the highest level of protection and the best possible lawyer.”
Recall Information
Product Recalled: Solgar ABC Dophilus® Powder NET Wt. 1.75 oz (50 g)
UPC Code: 0 33984 00010 0
Label: Solgar
Lot Numbers: Lot# 074024-01R1, 074024-01, 074024-02
Expiration Date: 7/31/15
The product was distributed to: Alabama AL, Arkansas AR, Arizona AZ, California CA, Connecticut CT, Colorado CO, Florida FL, Iowa IA, Illinois IL, Indiana IN, Michigan MI, Maine ME, Montana MO, Massachusetts MA, North Carolina NC, Nebraska NE, New York NY, New Jersey NJ, Nevada NV, Ohio OH, Oklahoma OK, Pennsylvania PA, Puerto Rico PR, Utah UT, Tennessee TN, Texas TX, Vermont VT, Kentucky KY, Wisconsin WI, Washington WA, UK and Israel through pharmacy, retail stores, wholesale, and the internet.
Footnotes:
1. Nicole Ladd, PharmD and Tiffany Ngo, PharmD. The use of probiotics in the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). Jul 2009; 22(3): 287–291.
2. FDA website: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm423219.htm