# 3574
Recently a joke went around about an outbreak of norovirus on a cruise ship that sickened hundreds of people.
The CDC dispatched field investigators to the ship to determine the source, and after 3 days of intensive effort traced the source of the contamination . . . to the hand sanitizer dispensers installed in each cabin.
Apparently, it isn’t such a far-fetched idea.
Today, in a true-life-mimics-comedy moment, we learn that US Marshals have seized skin sanitizers and skin care products from the Clarcon Biological Chemistry laboratory facility in Roy Utah . . . because of bacterial contamination.
US Marshals seize sanitizer for bacteria problems
The Associated Press
Last Modified: Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009 - 2:44 amWASHINGTON -- Officers with the U.S. Marshals Service have seized all skin sanitizers and skin protectants, including ingredients and components, at Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory's facility in Roy, Utah, the Food and Drug Administration said.
The FDA also warned the public Saturday not to use any Clarcon products because they contain harmful bacteria and are promoted as antimicrobial agents that claim to treat open wounds, damaged skin, and protect against various infectious diseases. No cases have been reported to the FDA.
Clarcon voluntarily recalled the affected products, marketed under several different brand names, in June 2009, following an FDA inspection that revealed high levels of potentially disease-causing bacteria in the products.
From the FDA page, this warning.
Consumers Warned Not to Use Clarcon Skin Products
Search Consumer Updates
Risk of bacterial contamination has led the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to warn consumers to not use any products made by Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory Inc.
The Roy, Utah, firm voluntarily recalled some skin sanitizers and skin protectants sold under a variety of brand names after a recent FDA inspection found that the products contained high levels of disease-causing bacteria.
What products are consumers being warned not to use?
Consumers should not use any Clarcon products. Examples of these products include
• Citrushield Lotion
• Dermasentials DermaBarrier
• Dermassentials by Clarcon Antimicrobial Hand Sanitizer
• Iron Fist Barrier Hand Treatment
• Skin Shield Restaurant
• Skin Shield Industrial
• Skin Shield Beauty Salon Lotion
• Total Skin Care Beauty
• Total Skin Care Work
What should consumers do with these products if the have them?
Stop using them immediately and throw them away in household refuse.
What specific concerns does FDA have about these products?
Analyses of several samples of over-the-counter topical antimicrobial skin sanitizer and hand protectant products revealed high levels of various bacteria, including some associated with unsanitary conditions.
Some of these bacteria can cause opportunistic infections of the skin and underlying tissues. Such infections may need medical or surgical attention, and may result in permanent damage.
FDA finds the inspection results particularly concerning because the products are promoted as antimicrobial agents that claim to treat open wounds, damaged skin, and protect against various infectious diseases.
The inspection uncovered serious deviations from FDA’s requirements.
This recall is actually from June.
Some how I missed it at the time. If you’ve got any of these products, head’s up.
Although I’d seen this story earlier today, a hat tip to @frlucy on Twitter for jogging my memory about it this afternoon.
