Infection-related deaths of two patients, and hospitalization of numerous other patients have reportedly brought on the closure of the Bessemer Kidney Center in Alabama on May 8, online media reports say. See the Dialysis Injury Helpline at dialysisinjuryhelpline.com for more related information involving safety problems associated with the use of GranuFlo.

1. Two Patient Fatalities Seal Fresenius Dialysis
Center in Alabama
Infection-related deaths of two patients, and
hospitalization of numerous other patients have
reportedly brought on the closure of the Bessemer
Kidney Center in Alabama on May 8, online media
reports say.
Owned and managed by the world's leader in dialysis
treatment Fresenius Medical Care, the recently closed
dialysis center is reportedly one of the numerous
company dialysis facilities which have failed to meet the
standards while operating. According to a state health
department inspection report, the dialysis center, as
were a dozen other Fresenius-owned dialysis facilities in
Alabama, has been reportedly found with several
deficiencies related to infection control, glove use and
disinfection of surfaces, or hand washing in an inspection
conducted in March 2012.

2. "Last week, over the span of a few days, several patients
were hospitalized, some of whom had infections, which
were treated by antibiotics," said Kent Jarrell, a
spokesman for Fresenius, in an al.com report. "Sadly, two
patients died. Our deep feelings of sympathy go out to
their families and loved ones."
Incidentally, this is not the first time that Fresenius has
been involved in major safety concerns in dialysis
patients being treated in its facilities. In June 2010,
Fresenius has reportedly harbored close scrutiny from
the United States Food and Drug Administration
following 941 incidents of cardiac arrests inside Fresenius
clinics in 2010, and a dangerous increase in death risks
among patients who have been receiving one of their
popular dialysis drug solutions known as Granuflo.
Moreover, patients, and their loved ones, who may have
been affected by serious health problems have
reportedly turned to filing a dialysis injury lawsuit as a
legal recourse. See the Dialysis Injury Helpline at
dialysisinjuryhelpline.com for more related information

3. involving safety problems associated with the use of
GranuFlo.
Bloodstream infections are not uncommon in patients on
dialysis treatment, medical experts say. It is, in fact, one
of the major causes of death next to vascular disease in
patients receiving dialysis, according to the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC, which
has been called to conduct an investigation alongside
Alabama Department of Public Health on the infection-
related fatalities, has also recently published study
results that put emphasis on the importance of following
preventative protocols in bringing down the rates of
bloodstream infections in patients on dialysis.

4. Sources:
*blog.al.com/spotnews/2013/05/bessemer_dialysis_center_shut.html
*blog.al.com/spotnews/2013/05/report_bessemer_dialysis_cente.html
*nytimes.com/2012/06/15/health/fda-investigates-fresenius-for-
failure-to-warn-of-risk.html?_r=1&
*mayoclinic.com/health/hemodialysis/MY00281/DSECTION=risks
*cdc.gov/media/releases/2013/p0513-dialysis-infections.html