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U.S.

CDC investigating tuberculosis outbreak among surgery patients

Headshot of <span class="author-name text-name1">Alex Peebles</span>
Alex Peebles Reporter
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating an outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) linked to a medical putty that helps heal bones after different kinds of surgery.

The putty is known as FiberCel Fiber Viable Bone Matrix, and it’s made by Aziyo Biologics. It’s made from human tissue.

According to Aziyo, 154 containers of FiberCel were made from the human tissues of some who had tuberculosis.

The contaminated putty was shipped to 37 facilities in 20 states. 136 of the containers were used on 113 patients.

Eight of the 113 died after surgery. However, those deaths are still under investigation, and it is unclear if the putty played a role.

Aziyo recalled FiberCel in early June.

“Patient health and safety are our highest priority. Accordingly, we have implemented this voluntary recall and instructed hospitals that received FiberCel product from this specific donor lot to immediately quarantine and return any remaining product to us,” said Ron Lloyd, Aziyo’s president and chief executive officer. “We are committed to a thorough, timely and transparent investigation into the root cause of these infections.”

Last week, a patient infected by TB filed a lawsuit against the company.

Gwen Baumgardner: RIGHT NOW — THE C-D-C IS INVESTIGATING A TUBERCULOSIS OUTBREAK THAT INFECTED MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE.
THE OUTBREAK IS BEING LINKED TO A MEDICAL PUTTY THAT HELPS HEAL BONES AFTER SPINAL SURGERIES.
CONTAINERS OF THIS MEDICAL PUTTY WERE CONTAMINATED WITH T-B AND THEN USED ON 113 PATIENTS…
BEFORE A RECALL BY THE DEVELOPER AZIYO BIOLOGICS.
OF THOSE TREATED WITH THE MEDICAL PUTTY…8 PEOPLE DIED.
THOUGH THE CAUSE OF THEIR DEATHS IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED.
THE CEO FOR AZIYO SAYS “WE ARE COMMITTED TO A THOROUGH, TIMELY AND TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE ROOT CAUSE OF THESE INFECTIONS.”
LAST WEEK, A PATIENT INFECTED BY TB FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COMPANY.