The World Health Organization has issued an alert regarding the presence of a contaminated batch of METHOTREX 50mg in the WHO Region for the Eastern Mediterranean.
The organization said in a statement It was published on its official website on Tuesdaythat the contaminated batch was found in Yemen and Lebanon, following adverse effects appeared on sick children receiving the drug, indicating that the health authorities in the two countries conducted microbiological tests on the remaining sealed vials, and the results of the tests revealed the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, which is what indicates product contamination.
The organization stressed “the need to detect contaminated products and withdraw them from circulation to prevent harm to patients,” and called for increased surveillance and caution at the level of supply chains in countries and territories potentially affected by this product.
The organization also advised to increase monitoring at the level of informal markets, and urged the competent authorities to notify them immediately if this product was discovered in the markets of their countries.
The World Health Organization urged manufacturing companies to conduct tests to detect any microbial contamination before issuing batches of finished products for use, and stressed the need to obtain medicines through approved and licensed suppliers, and to carefully check the authenticity and physical condition of the products.
Medication falls It is included in the WHO Model List of Essential MedicinesIt is an immunosuppressive chemotherapy agent prescribed for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in the bloodstream is a serious infection that can lead to death, and any contaminated product injected directly into the body can pose severe risks to patients.