CHICAGO (AP) -- Federal officials are investigating dozens of blood infections in Illinois and Texas linked to bacteria-contaminated syringes.
About 40 people have been sickened, including 20 outpatients from Chicago's Rush University Medical Center. Doctors traced the infections earlier this month to heparin-filled syringes used during home treatment for cancer and other ailments.
The syringes are used to flush catheters and intravenous lines.
The culprit is Serratia bacteria. It was found in a batch of pre-filled syringes made in North Carolina by a company called Sierra Pre-Filled.
The potentially serious infections can cause fever and chills. Federal officials say there're no known deaths.
The company recalled the affected lot.
Public health officials says the syringes were also sent to three other states.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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