Rhode Island has another case that was reported about the current outbreak of fungal meningitis. The first case was a 60-year-old woman from Lincoln that received an injection at Ocean State Pain Management of Woonsocket. She was treated and is now recovering. On Monday, a woman in her 40s was hospitalized after receiving treatment also at Ocean State Pain Management. Ocean State and New England Anesthesiology were two places that received a shipment of contaminated vials that are being linked to the outbreak.

The contaminated vials that are under investigation came from the New England Compounding Center out of Framingham, Massachusetts. 17,000 vials of methylprednisolone acetate, a steroid injected for pain, was shipped out to 23 states and was tainted by fungus. Over 300 people have become sickened in 18 states and 28 have died after getting an injection of the bad shots.

Fungal meningitis is when a fungus enters the body and affects the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord lining. It can cause headache, fever, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck, slurred speech, pain and swelling at the injection site, vision changes, numbness and weakness. It also can cause peripheral joint damage in the patients who got the injections in their joints, knees and shoulders. Long term damage can result in joint replacement surgery. If you or a loved one received an injection and are experiencing any of the symptoms listed or got an injection at one of the clinics that received the bad shots, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Read the full story here. http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode-island/2012/11/01/has-case-fungal-meningitis-outbreak/uwRERbLrrrHJWQ5BLv1QBN/story.html