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Arsenic Poisoning and McGuff Compounding Pharmacy May 9, 2003 By William Blair, Pharm.D. On April 27, 2003, 16 patients were poisoned with arsenic at the Gustaf Adolph Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Sweden, Maine. One person died and 15 others were sickened after drinking arsenic-laced coffee at a church reception following Sunday services. Immediately after the poisonings occurred, McGuff Compounding Pharmacy Services, Inc. (McGuff CPS) was contacted and asked to provide DMPS Injection to treat the victims. McGuff CPS rushed DMPS Injection to Maine. Subsequently, several additional orders have been requested and sent. We have been told that the patients are improving. McGuff CPS uses a special process to compound DMPS Injection since DMPS is readily oxidized and readily chelates with minerals during the compounding process. At McGuff, DMPS is prepared in a Nitrogen atmosphere to prevent oxidation. In addition a layer of sterile Nitrogen is placed over the DMPS solution inside the vial before the rubber stoppers are placed in the vials. During the entire compounding process, DMPS never comes in contact with metal surfaces. McGuff is proud to have helped in this tragic incident. Related Site: Click here to learn more about the manufacturer of DMPS. |
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