The CDC has confirmed 47 infections across five states linked to Burkholderia cepacia bacteria since first warning hospitals of the outbreak at the end of June. In an update to its initial hospital recommendations, the CDC has confirmed two samples of unused oral liquid docusate turned over by an affected hospital tested positive for the pathogen. Further testing is underway to determine if the strain is the same one causing the current outbreak.
"At this time, CDC continues to recommend that clinicians not use any liquid docusate product as a stool softener or for any other medical purpose," an update on the CDC website reads. "This recommendation is now expanded to all patient populations. If an oral liquid docusate stool softener is medically necessary, alternative medicines should be used."
The initial recommendations stated only that hospitals should suspend use of liquid docusate products solely for at-risk patient populations, such as those are immunosuppressed, have chronic respiratory illness, are ventilated, critically ill or taking antibiotics that could trigger an adverse reaction to the bacteria.
The CDC is awaiting the results of a Food and Drug Administration investigation into shared ingredients used in the liquid docusate products in question. The agency plans to provide an update within the week.