Safer Care Victoria Alert: Xylocaine 2% with Epinephrine batch #9949864 (Update)

Safer Care Victoria has issued an urgent quarantine notice for Xylocaine 2% with Epinephrine, batch #9949864. The Canadian supplier has incorrectly shipped a product that contains preservative in place of one that does not. It is possible that pharmacies have received Xylocaine 2% with Epinephrine containing preservative, rather than Xylocaine 2% with Epinephrine without preservative. 

Xylocaine 2% with Epinephrine with preservative may cause patient harm if administered intrathecally or epidurally.

While most of the incorrectly shipped batch should have been intercepted by pharmacy departments, anaesthetists are advised to be vigilant in checking packs that may have already been distributed to wards or theatres. The packaging of the medication with preservative and without preservative is easily visually confused. Images of the two medications are available from the Safer Care Victoria Alert.

If discovering switched stock of the two medications, please quarantine it until further notice and follow the instructions in the Safer Care Victoria Alert.

Update 8 August 2022: new information is available from the SCV updated alert of 2/8/22, and the Therapeutic Goods Administration Australia recall notice of 3/8/22.