Not all bandages can be recalled

Press, 16 November 1981, Page 11

Not all bandages can be recalled

PA Wellington The Health Department cannot recall all the Asian bandages on the market in New Zealand while it tests for possible contamination because there are too many, says the department’s Director of Clinical Services, Dr John Phillips. “The three main distributors of bandages here obtain their products either directly or indirectly from Taiwan,” he said.

“Most bandages on the open market here originate from Asia, notably Thailand and China, and all supplies from this area will be tested.”

The Health Department began testing bandages after an alert from Australian Federal health authorities

that unacceptable bacteria had been found on bandages imported from Taiwan. Johnson and Johnson in Australia reacted by recalling bandages imported from Taiwan even though they had n ot been implicated in the tests, and its action was repeated in New Zealand. Dr Phillips emphasised the importance of using on open wounds only pads or dressings marked “sterile.”

He said bandages were not claimed to be sterile dressings anyway, but could be used to hold pads or dressings in place. Only dressings marked “sterile” should be used on open wounds. “Because of worries generated by findings in Australia about contamination, the department is continuing to

investigate the sources of bandages and is testing individual products.

“Too many bandages are in stock in this country to be practicably recalled for sterilisation or testing. It is also often impossible to identify the origin of individual bandages.

“Only a small number overseas and none tested in New Zealand have been found to be contaminated.”

Dr Phillips said the three main distibutors of bandages in New Zealand (Johnson and Johnson, NJZ., Ltd, Smith and Nephew, N.Z. Ltd, and New Zealand Distributors, Ltd) had taken a “commendably responsible” attitude and had agreed to sterilise all products before distribution.