FDA Issues Statement on Device Availability

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a statement in response to the closure of two sterilization facilities recently. The availability of medical devices including implants used in hip and knee replacement surgeries may be impacted by the closures. “We have been working diligently with impacted device manufacturers and health care delivery organizations to ensure that they are aware of these developments and preparing to minimize adverse effects on patients whose care could be negatively affected if medical devices sterilized at these large facilities were not accessible,” according to Norman E. Sharpless, MD, Acting Commissioner of Food and Drugs. Full statement.