Kotex Tampons Recalled from Major Stores Over Risk of ‘Life Threatening’ Bacterial Infection

In case you are using Kotex tampons, you need to check before buying.

The American corporation Kimberly-Clark has recalled a lot of about 1400 boxes of Kotex tampons form all leading stores of United States, due to possible bacterial contamination in the plastic tubing that may cause “life threatening” urinary diseases and vaginal infections.

In an “Immediate Press Release,” a spokesman of Kimberly-Clark announced the product recall of its limited lot of Kotex Natural Balance from all the major outlets including “Walmart stores in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas; specific Fry’s stores in Arizona; and specific Smith’s stores in Utah and Arizona.”

According to the company’s recall statement on Monday, “The tampons were manufactured with a raw material contaminated with a bacterium, Enterobacter sakazakii, which may cause health risks, including vaginal infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), pelvic inflammatory disease or infections that can be life-threatening.”

The products were sold in 18 and 36 count cases with SKU numbers 15063 and 15068.

The company also said that the women with “serious illness, cancer or immune-compromised conditions like HIV, are at higher risk of such infections and must discard the product instantly if they have already bought it.

It also urged the impacted stores to shelve the product and customers to immediately consult a physician in case they have already used the impacted tampons. The customers can also contact the “Consumer Services Division at 1-800-335-6839” for all necessary information.

Except these two products, no other Kotex-branded products have been recalled and no customer complaint has been registered till date, said the company in the press note.

According to MSN, the company took the entire responsibility of circulating the contaminated products, even though the plastic tubes supplied with the tampons were manufactured by a third-party for Kimberly- Clark.

“This is our responsibility,” company’s spokesman, Bob Brand told msnbc.com.

He said, “A single plastic tube was found to be contaminated with the microbe, sparking the company's action.” Tampon is a medical device made of plastic, similar in design to a syringe as it is used to inserted into the vagina during menstruation to absorb the flow of menstrual fluid.

All other feminine hygiene products of Kimberly- Clark are safe to use and are free from all bacterial issues. “Tampons that don't contain the listed SKU numbers or lots are safe to use,” the company said.