Apotex Corp., a global pharmaceutical company, headquartered in Canada, has announced that the company is voluntarily recalling 36 lots of Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection, USP 3.375 gram/vial and 4.5 gram/vial strengths, to the consumer/user level. The Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection have been found to contain elevated levels of impurities that may result in decreased potency. The affected product is manufactured by Hospira Inc., a Pfizer Company and distributed in the US market by Apotex Corp.

Risk Statement: The decreased potency of Piperacillin and Tazobactam could result in worsening of the infection under treatment and under extreme circumstances lead to serious morbidities depending upon the severity of the illness. Elevated levels of impurities may result in various toxicities, such as liver, renal, and hematological toxicities. There have not been any reports of adverse events related to this recall to date.

Piperacillin and tazobactam for injection is a combination penicillin-class antibacterial and ß-lactamase inhibitor, which can be used in adults and children 2 months and older and indicated for treatment of: Intra-abdominal infections, Skin and skin structure infections, Female pelvic infections, Community-acquired pneumonia and Hospital Acquired pneumonia. The Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection, USP vials are packaged in a Carton containing 10 single use vials. The affected Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection, USP 3.375 gram/vial and 4.5 gram/vial lots include the following and can be identified by NDC numbers stated on the Carton and on the single use vial.

The affected Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection, USP 3.375 gram/vial and 4.5 gram/vial strengths were distributed Nationwide to wholesalers and one distributor. Apotex Corp. has notified wholesalers/distributor by recall letter to arrange for return of any recalled product.

Wholesalers/retailers/hospitals/institutions with an existing inventory of the lots subject to this recall should stop use and distribution of the remaining units and quarantine immediately. Healthcare Professionals in your organisation should be informed of this recall. If you have further distributed the recalled product, to the wholesale or retail level, please notify any accounts or additional locations which may have received the recalled product from you. For additional assistance, call GENCO Pharmaceutical Services, a subsidiary of FedEx Supply Chain (GENCO) at 1- 877-319-8966 (7:00am – 5:00pm, CST Monday thru Friday), to arrange for their return.