Kildare grandmother left worried as she is one of the many patients who may have been given 'contaminated chemotherapy'

A 68-year-old Kilcullen woman has been told that she may be one of hundreds of patients who have been given contaminated treatment for cancer. She was contacted by health professionals from St James' Hospital earlier this month to inform her that the treatment she was receiving may have been contaminated during manufacturing.

Dublin based company Fannin Compounding LTD make the treatments, and they have since recalled their products after discovering that one of their manufacturing machines was contaminated with bacteria.

The bacteria is bacillus cereus, which is widely found in the environment. While associated mainly with food poisoning, it is being increasingly reported to be a cause of serious and potentially fatal non-gastrointestinal-tract infections. Over 200 patients have now been contacted and have been offered assistance from medical professionals if they have any concerns.

Mary Murphy, who is battling breast cancer, said in an interview with theherald.ie she is concerned after getting the news.

"She said the reason I'm ringing you is because, she said, a batch of chemotherapy, we think, could have a slight contamination [and] if I did contract flu or cold symptoms to contact the hospital," she said.

"I was put on four very strong chemotherapies to start off with," she said. "They were every two weeks, and then they were reduced to once a week to a milder chemotherapy and Herceptin."

Naas general hospital is one of te hospitals affected by the contamination.