Health authorities have warned the National Institute of Drug Quality Control, hospitals and the GlaxoSmithKline Company in Vietnam against the antibacterial Augmentin drug after it was found to contain plasticizers.
Drug regulatory authorities in Hong Kong and Taiwan had ordered recall of the flavored pediatric formulas of the GlaxoSmithKline antibacterial Augmentin syrup (amoxicillin clavulanate) in June after it was found to contain traces of plasticizers.
This is the second instance of Hong Kong health authorities finding Di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP), an additive used in making plastics more flexible, in the Augmentin drug.
Health authorities in Vietnam have ordered the National Institute of Drug Quality Control to take Augmentin samples from the markets for testing. They have also asked the manufacturers to provide a detailed report on the source of raw materials, packaging and manufacturing process to be submitted before August 5.
Augmentin tablet 375 mg is however unavailable in Vietnam since 2001 and GlaxoSmithKline has not imported the drug into Vietnam again.
