Hundreds seen at risk in meningitis outbreak

mlurp · #1 (**permalink**) 10-06-2012, 03:37 PM

I am a bit

no one has report this bit of news.

Quote:

.Hundreds seen at risk in meningitis outbreak

By MIKE STOBBE | Associated Press – Thu, Oct 4, 2012. Posted 6 Oct. 2012 ...

NEW YORK (AP) — The potential scope of the meningitis outbreak that has killed at least five people widened dramatically Thursday as health officials warned that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of patients who got steroid back injections in 23 states could be at risk.

Clinics and medical centers rushed to contact patients who may have received the apparently fungus-contaminated shots. And the Food and Drug Administration urged doctors not to use any products at all from the Massachusetts pharmacy that supplied the suspect steroid solution.

It is not clear how many patients received tainted injections, or even whether everyone who got one will get sick.

So far, 35 people in six states — Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Florida, North Carolina and Indiana — have contracted fungal meningitis, and five of them have died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All had received steroid shots for back pain, a highly common treatment.

In an alarming indication the outbreak could get a lot bigger, Massachusetts health officials said the pharmacy involved, the New England Compounding Center of Framingham, Mass., has recalled three lots consisting of a total of 17,676 single-dose vials of the steroid, preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate.

An unknown number of those vials reached 75 clinics and other facilities in 23 states between July and September, federal health officials said. Several hundred of the vials, maybe more, have been returned unused, one Massachusetts official said.

But many other vials were used. At one clinic in Evansville, Ind., more than 500 patients got shots from the suspect lots, officials said. At two clinics in Tennessee, more than 900 patients — perhaps many more — did.

The investigation began about two weeks ago after a case was diagnosed in Tennessee. The time from infection to onset of symptoms is anywhere from a few days to a month, so the number of people stricken could rise.

Investigators this week found contamination in a sealed vial of the steroid at the New England company, according to FDA officials. Tests are under way to determine if it is the same fungus blamed in the outbreak.

The company has shut down operations and said it is working with regulators to identify the source of the infection.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we advise all health care practitioners not to use any product" from the company, said Ilisa Bernstein, director of compliance for the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

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Hundreds seen at risk in meningitis outbreak - Yahoo! News

577 comments.

MrLiberty · #2 (**permalink**) 10-08-2012, 05:40 AM

20 cases of meningitis reported in Mich.

Quote:

The number of reported cases of fungal meningitis linked to a contaminated steroid climbed to 91 Sunday, including 20 cases and two deaths in Michigan, according to health officials.

Nine states now have reported cases of fungal meningitis, an inflammation of the protective membrane around the brain and the spinal cord.

Combined, the number of confirmed cases nationally is now 91, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Those include nine deaths.

In Michigan, state health officials reported the total number of cases had reached 20, up from the eight cases that had been reported only 24 hours earlier. Among the total cases are two deaths.

Investigators believe the cases are the result of fungus-tainted steroids shipped from a Framingham, Mass., pharmaceutical plant earlier this year.

The steroids are injected into patients to help relieve chronic back pain.

On Saturday, the New England Compounding Pharmacy announced it would recall all of its products currently in circulation.

"This action is being taken out of an abundance of caution due to the potential risk of contamination and in cooperation with an investigation being conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy …," the company posted on its website.

"Clinics, hospitals and healthcare providers that have product which is being recalled should stop using the product immediately, retain and secure the product."

From The Detroit News: 20 cases of meningitis reported in Mich. | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com

It should also be noted that the pharmaceutical company that is responsible for this is recalling all of their suspected product from the market.

rivrrat · #3 (**permalink**) 10-08-2012, 08:45 AM

Yikes. I had a steroid injection, but not in the time frame mentioned. Eesh

mlurp · #4 (**permalink**) 10-08-2012, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rivrrat

Yikes. I had a steroid injection, but not in the time frame mentioned. Eesh

I would think if your injections were from another pharmaceutical company you would have nothing to worry about rivrrat.

And you have the time frame on your side to. Here is to hope and prayers.

mlurp · #5 (**permalink**) 10-17-2012, 02:29 PM

A follow up from yesterday. And it does not look good.

Quote:

.Hundreds seen at risk in meningitis outbreak

By MIKE STOBBE | Associated Press – Thu, Oct 4, 2012. Posted 17 Oct.

NEW YORK (AP) — The potential scope of the meningitis outbreak that has killed at least five people widened dramatically Thursday as health officials warned that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of patients who got steroid back injections in 23 states could be at risk.

Clinics and medical centers rushed to contact patients who may have received the apparently fungus-contaminated shots. And the Food and Drug Administration urged doctors not to use any products at all from the Massachusetts pharmacy that supplied the suspect steroid solution.

It is not clear how many patients received tainted injections, or even whether everyone who got one will get sick.

So far, 35 people in six states — Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Florida, North Carolina and Indiana — have contracted fungal meningitis, and five of them have died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All had received steroid shots for back pain, a highly common treatment.

In an alarming indication the outbreak could get a lot bigger, Massachusetts health officials said the pharmacy involved, the New England Compounding Center of Framingham, Mass., has recalled three lots consisting of a total of 17,676 single-dose vials of the steroid, preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate.

An unknown number of those vials reached 75 clinics and other facilities in 23 states between July and September, federal health officials said. Several hundred of the vials, maybe more, have been returned unused, one Massachusetts official said.

But many other vials were used. At one clinic in Evansville, Ind., more than 500 patients got shots from the suspect lots, officials said. At two clinics in Tennessee, more than 900 patients — perhaps many more — did.

The investigation began about two weeks ago after a case was diagnosed in Tennessee. The time from infection to onset of symptoms is anywhere from a few days to a month, so the number of people stricken could rise.

................................................ CONTINUED .............................................

Hundreds seen at risk in meningitis outbreak - Yahoo! News

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