No Less than 113 Patients Exposed to Tuberculosis After Receiving Donated Bone Grafts Says CDC and FDA Officials

According to health officials from the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a batch of contaminated donated bone tissues is the most likely source behind the bizarre outbreak of tuberculosis where no less than 113 patients that underwent spinal repair surgery have been exposed.

What is Tuberculosis?

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According to the CDC, tuberculosis is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria that often attack a person's lungs. However, the bacteria can also attack different organs in the body, such as the brain, spine, and kidneys.

Not everyone who comes into contact with the bacteria becomes sick. Hence, there are 2 TB-related conditions known as latent tuberculosis infection and TB disease.

Tuberculosis bacteria spread in the area passed from one person to another. The bacteria are put into the air when a patient with TB disease in the lungs or throats sings, speaks, or coughs. However, the agency clarifies that tuberculosis cannot be spread via sharing drinks or food, shaking someone's hand, touching toilet seats or bed linens, sharing toothbrushes, or kissing.

The NHS UK warns that persistent coughing that lasts more than 3 weeks with phlegm or blood, sudden weight loss, night sweats, tiredness & fatigue, loss of appetite, swellings in the neck, and high temperature are often symptoms of TB disease.

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Bizzare Tuberculosis Outbreak in No Less than 113 Patients

The FDA announced in early June the voluntary recall of a single lot of FiberCel products from Aziyo Biologics that are typically used as a bone graft to hastens healing after serious injuries and surgery. The recall stemmed from reports from a single hospital where 7 out of 23 that received the bone grafts developed infections after surgery; four of the infected were positive with tuberculosis.

FiberCel is made from human tissues, where the tainted lot came from a single donor cadaver.

Likewise, the CDC recently announced that it was investigating the matter, calling the bizarre situation a 'multi-state outbreak of TB.' However, it remains unclear exactly how many cases of TB have been reported. On the other hand, health officials say that bone graft FiberCel has been shipped in over 20 states from April to May of this year, which were used in no less than 113 patients before the initiation of the recall, according to Gizmodo reports.

Eight patients have reportedly died post-surgery, but it is unclear if TB played a critical role in their demise. The CDC stated in its announcement that all unused products from the same low have already been sequestered.

Due to the dangers posed by tuberculosis, the CDC has recommended that all patients who received FiberCel bone grafts from the tainted lot be treated with antibiotics. Although no other FiberCel lot is suspected of being tainted with tuberculosis bacteria, the CDC has stated that it works closely with various hospitals, health departments, and surgical centers in the affected states.