Kathmandu, June 10 -- Two saline solutions have been recalled from the market after lab tests detected the growth of hazardous microorganisms. Doctors say patients exposed to contaminated saline solutions may suffer from septic shock and even die, and the deadly bacteria could spread within hospitals.

"Samples were sent to us by the Seti Provincial Hospital of Sudurpaschim province," said Narayan Dhakal, director general at the Department of Drug Administration (DDA). "We have instructed agencies concerned to stop using these substandard saline solutions immediately and have ordered companies and dealers to recall products from the market."

The department, which is the national drug regulatory agency, admitted that testing the contamina...