Tylenol Recall '09: Burkholderia cepacia - Symptoms & Risk Groups

by Yuliya Talmazan | September 24, 2009 at 12:56 pm

12284 views | 18 Recommendations | 15 comments

As of September 18, 2009, Tylenol is voluntarily recalling 21 of its children's products. See the full list of recalled products here.

Today, it has been determined that the raw material used in preparation of recalled Tylenol products has been tainted with a strain of bacteria called Burkholderia cepacia. This bacteria causes pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals with an underlying lung condition. What this translates to is that people with weakened immune systems -- very young children, elders, HIV-positive and cancer patients are at an increased risk of infection. A pre-existing lung condition implies that an individual must also be suffering from a condition like cystic fibrosis, obstructive lung disease, or chronic granulomatous disease.

That leaves a small group of vulnerable individuals -- however, given that the recalled products have been used mostly in infants and children whose immune systems are not stable yet is of concern. Also, cancer patients often get prescribed Tylenol as a painkiller, so they might be at a significant risk as well. Another complicating factor is the resistance to some of the widely used antibiotics that Burkholderia cepacia has shown -- the bug is resistant to aminoglycosides and polymyxin B. This particular bacterial species is notoriously persistent -- it is very non-demanding when it comes to survival conditions, to the point that it can even survive in topical antiseptics, which normally wipe out most of bacteria. In the worst case scenario, Burkholderia cepacia can cause lung function to become severely compromised, leading to patient's death.

The symptoms of Burkholderia cepacia's infection are those of a typical pneumonia:

cough
chest pain
fever
difficulty breathing

Burkholderia cepacia can spread in water droplets from individual to individual, so precautionary measures must be taken once the infection is diagnosed.

Transmission of B. cepacia has been reported from contaminated solutions and medical devices as well as contaminated over-the-counter nasal spray and contaminated mouthwash

For the list of Tylenol products recalled, see previous NowPublic coverage.

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Konnie (not verified)

at 20:30 on September 24th, 2009

I recieved a phone call yesterday from a store saying that they had on record that i had bought Infant's Tylenol drops between the dates mentioned in the recall, I had a baby last summer that was born premature and had a weakend immune system and also had lung issues. He had not had any lung issues in months and at the beginning of the year started getting respirtory infections and was hospitalized with Severe RSV, He had stopped breathing several times. We had used tylenol with him for shots and teething. Why if they knew this had happened didn't they pull it off of the shelfs last year until waiting over a year to pull it. And how do i find out if the respirtory issues that my son has started having is linked to tylenol?

Kim Bowman (not verified)

at 14:31 on September 26th, 2009

I am devastated! I have 2 sons with Cystic Fibrosis! I gave my 9 yr old meltaways this morn. What a mess....My worst nightmare....who would of thought??

Val Roark (not verified)

at 11:47 on October 12th, 2009

Meltaways are not at risk and not included in the recall

ashleyb (not verified)

at 11:44 on September 28th, 2009

is it just tylenol brand or generic too?

Val Roark (not verified)

at 11:49 on October 12th, 2009

just tylenol brand

Lupita Arredondo (not verified)

at 07:38 on September 29th, 2009

My baby was given Tylenol about 2 months ago for a earache, from there her symptoms have gone from earaches to cold/flu wioth coughing over a month and half. I have taken her to her Dr and ER and they can not get rid of anything. I had her on Tylenol for pain and fever, then started her on Tylenol &flu plus cough . She is not getting any better just worse. Now her having a cough for 1 1/2 mo and when she coughs she strains cause it hurts her inside. I have contacted her Dr which they have a difficult believing and asking why keep her this long on Tylenol? Well they gave me that and told me it eventually go away.. I have recently quit my job to stay home and take her out of day care cause she had a poor immune system. Now to find out that this maybe what is causing her illness. I have a Dr appointment this afternoon and I will ask them to test her for this bacteria and we can go from there.

Alicia E (not verified)

at 11:31 on September 30th, 2009

Lupita Arredondo - What did the doctor tell you yesterday? My daughter has been having similar things going on with her. She had tylenol 1 1/2-2 months ago for teething & shots. Since then has been constantly sick. Dr said it was a virus, then sinus infection, then another virus, then another sinus infection, then ear infection, and now her tonsiles are infected. The ENT even told me that it was most likely a bacterial infection. I asked him about the tylenol recall & he quickly changed the subject. I think I'm going to try to get her back in to she her pediatrician & she if she will test her for the bacteria. I'm really aggravated like you for having a sick baby & having to miss so much work because of her being sick.

Suzie (not verified)

at 06:41 on October 1st, 2009

I just found out about the recall. My toddler is underweight and very small. I gave her the tylenol for teething pain and now she is coughing has lost her voice and I'm freaking out. Could this be related to the meds?

LindaMM (not verified)

at 06:33 on October 2nd, 2009

I happened to have one of the brands that was recalled, Tylenol Cold Plus Grape flavor, and didn’t know it when I gave it to my 4yr. old two nights ago when she had a fever of 101.8. She seems to be fine “THANK GOODNESS”!! I called the Pediatrician and she said that she should be okay and that it wasn’t life threatening. If she gets worse, I should look for the same type of flu symptoms high fever, diarrhea and vomiting. She hasn’t had any of the other symptoms and has seemed to have broken the fever. We can't seem to trust any of these medications anymore. Every year there seems to be some sort of recall. TOO SCARY!!

Lawsos717 (not verified)

at 18:42 on October 2nd, 2009

This is seriously crazy!! I just threw out the tylenol I had on the list Childrens tylenol plus flu bubble gum...In my opinion this is as bad as last year when there were traces of melamine in baby formula, the same baby formula that I was giving my son!!! I think the government lets this pass to make us sick so we are not over-populating and giving money for treatments to doctors and hospitals (JMO) I dont know, who can you really trust anymore??

jim white (not verified)

at 08:35 on October 19th, 2009

can you send me the name of the class action attorney that will be handeling this bad product

worried mom (not verified)

at 04:00 on October 20th, 2009

I gave my son Tylenol from a bottle that doesn't have the lot number/exp. date printed on it. For some reason it was left blank. He came down very ill last week and was just diagnosed with pneumonia yesterday. I am very concerned that the Tylenol may be at fault, but since the information aforementioned is not there, I don't know how to go about finding out. Any suggestions?

Sharon Ward (not verified)

at 16:10 on October 22nd, 2009

I'm sorry for all the problems that the parents are having with this medicine. It's unfortunate that Big Companies make such major mistakes at the risk of the consumer. We have to pay the price for there mistakes. If this product was bad in April 2008 it should'nt have taken them so long to notify the public it doesn't take a rocket science to know that millions of people purchase this medicine for there children We support this Company if it was'nt for us it would'nt be no tylenol. I dont understand what the were waiting for to see how many children became seriously ill or died before they did something to help the public well that's exactly what happen now they're going to be sue for something they could have prevented. listen up people the money is not in the cure it's in the medicine. These Companies are experimenting with everyone lives not only children adults as well. be safe make better choices for your family much love.

Libby Ortiz (not verified)

at 11:48 on November 15th, 2009

I bought Tylenol liquid for children and Tylenol drops for infants for my niece's sons, ages 3 and newborn at the time about 6 weeks old. I bougt it at the beginning of June and I traveledb to Bogota, Colombia, where they reside. The baby has been very sick and they haven't found the exact cause. He was given Tylenol drops when he was running a fever after his first vaccinations, and then later for teething.

amy huvan (not verified)

at 08:34 on November 20th, 2009

has this been on the news? did I miss the recall announcement over the TV? Thats where this message should be, I dont understand why this wasnt all over the TV, seems like a pretty big deal. Especially since once you get this sickness it is spread very easily? I am outraged!