RALEIGH, N.C. - A North Carolina company is accused of bypassing sterilization tests for medical syringes in a cost-cutting move that prosecutors say sickened hundreds of patients and led to five deaths.
US Attorney George Holding said yesterday that federal authorities have launched an international search for the executive charged with rushing shipments of bacteria-contaminated syringes from an AM2PAT Inc. plant. Two former plant workers who provided prosecutors details about the plant's operations have pleaded guilty for their roles.
The syringes contained Heparin, a blood thinner, and saline, and were recalled in December 2007 after an outbreak of illnesses. Health inspectors identified bacterial infections in Colorado, Texas, Illinois, and Florida.
