Contaminated CT contrast blamed for 8 patient hospitalizations

After several radiology patients were hospitalized following an injection of iodinated contrast, the institution where the incidents occurred has revealed the culprit. 

On Aug. 27, 10 patients undergoing contrast-enhanced CT imaging at AZ Sint-Blasius Hospital in Dendermonde, Belgium, fell ill shortly after their injection. In total, eight were hospitalized, three of whom were admitted to the intensive care unit. The patients were showing signs of infection, such as fever, chills and elevated heart rates. The timing of their illnesses was suspicious, prompting an internal investigation. 

Monday, the hospital revealed that a bottle of contaminated contrast caused the patients to fall ill. Specifically, experts determined the bottle contained Klebsiella bacteria. This type of bacteria is normally found in stool; it can cause a myriad of symptoms ranging from pneumonia to meningitis and can be life-threatening when it migrates to parts of the body beyond the gut. 

Acting General Manager of Sint-Blasius Peter Van Puyvelde has indicated the contamination is not believed to be widespread. 

"Thanks to the efforts of our internal physicians and staff, who went to great lengths to determine the cause, we were able to find the source of the infectious symptoms, specifically a contamination of the contrast agent with Klebsiella bacteria," Van Puyvelde told local media. "This contamination was detected in a single bottle of contrast agent." 

It has not yet been determined exactly how the bottle became contaminated. It could have occurred during packaging at the supplier, during administration or storage. None of these causes have been ruled out yet. 

Five patients remain hospitalized, but reports indicate their conditions are improving. 

Of note, these instances occurred the week after news of a contrast-related death in Brazil. In that case, a young woman had what is believed to be an allergic reaction that triggered anaphylactic shock, ultimately leading to her untimely passing. The type of contrast used during that scan has not yet been disclosed. Currently, no connections between the two incidents have been established. Health Imaging reached out to the hospital in Brazil to determine the type of contrast used but has not yet received a response.