Blog: Fungal Meningitis

Oct 22, 2012

In the current outbreak of fungal meningitis two more have been reported dead today. The death toll is now at 23. The fungal meningitis outbreak is linked to contaminated steroids which were distributed by the New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Massachusetts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated there are 297 cases: 294 are fungal meningitis and the others are joint infections. There are cases in 16, but 23 states received shipments of...

Death toll for Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Grows to 23; Total Reported Cases Grows to 284

Oct 20, 2012

The number of fungal meningitis cases linked to tainted epidural steroid injections has now reached 284. As of today there have been 23 reported deaths due to complications caused by fungal meningitis. The last two deaths were reported in Tennessee and North Carolina. According to the CDC, of the 284 cases reported, three cases are peripheral joint infections. The number of states reporting cases has remained the same at 16. Tennessee remains the state with...

UPDATE 2-FDA finds fungus in steroid shots, meningitis toll rises

Oct 19, 2012

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is now investigating 2 other lots of steroids that were shipped from the New England Compounding Center for the Exserohilum fungus. The fungus that is believed to cause fungal meningitis is associated with grass and rotting wood and seems to attack the brain and spine aggressively. The contaminated steroids, or methylprednisolone acetate, that were shipped by the New England Compounding Center have been causing fungal meningitis. The patients who...

FDA Update on Fungal Meningitis Outbreak

Oct 19, 2012

Investigators have confirmed that there was a fungus in the injected steroids which are now giving patients fungal meningitis. The vials containing the steroid, methylprednisolone acetate, were contaminated by exserohilum rostratum, killing 20 people and presenting over 200 cases. The contaminated steroids came from a company in Massachusetts, the New England Compounding Company, who is now under investigation and has recalled all of their products. Almost 97% of the people who received the injections for...

Fungal meningitis outbreak tied to steroid shots isn’t the first, reports show

Oct 18, 2012

With the recent outbreak of fungal meningitis being blamed on tainted steroids, reports are showing that this is not the first time. In 2002, five people became ill after receiving epidural injections of the steroid methylprednisolone, but this time contaminated with the fungus Exophiala. This outbreak is among 20 incidents since 1990 that include recalls, serious illness, and even death; all of which are linked to the behavior going on in compounding practices. Around 14,000...

Pharmacy Poisons Hundreds With Deadly Fungal Meningitis

Oct 17, 2012

A class action lawsuit has been filed in Minnesota against the New England Compounding Center, who is responsible for making contaminated vials of steroids. Barbe Puro, of Minneapolis, received an injection of steroids or methylprednisolone acetate in September. The steroids were being given to patients with back pain and many patients now have fungal meningitis because the vials were contaminated with a fungus. The NECC recalled all of their products and has stopped production while...

U.S. meningitis outbreak claims four more lives

Oct 17, 2012

U.S. health officials have announced that there are four more deaths in the cases related to the meningitis outbreak. There have been cases reported of rare fungal meningitis that is linked to contaminated steroids of methylprednisolone acetate steroid. Patients received injected steroids for back pain and later developed fungal meningitis. So far it has claimed 19 lives and there are over 200 cases all in various states across the United States. New England Compounding Center,...

What Contaminated the Steroid Injections Involved in US Meningitis Outbreak?

Oct 17, 2012

The injected steroids that are linked to the current fungal meningitis outbreak are made without preservatives, meaning there is no alcohol or anything in the vials to kill bacteria. They have to be made under highly sterilized conditions. Compounding pharmacies are not as regulated as drug companies, but are still supposed to follow certain rules. The fungal meningitis is linked to bacteria known as Aspergillus, which is found on vegetation. The New England Compounding Company...

Fungal Meningitis Linked to Altoona Clinic

Oct 15, 2012

The first case of fungal meningitis in Altoona, PA was recently reported. The fungal meningitis is being linked to contaminated steroids that were distributed out of Massachusetts at a compounding pharmacy. The New England Compounding Company is responsible for the distribution of contaminated vials and has recalled all of their products. Read the full story here. http://wearecentralpa.com/fulltext-news?nxd_id=405712...

Fungal Meningitis Linked to Steroid Injection Reported in Altoona

Oct 15, 2012

The first case of fungal meningitis linked to the national outbreak was reported in Pennsylvania yesterday. The outbreak is believed to have started from contaminated steriod produced by the New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Mass. Earlier in the month it was reported that the infected lots of steroids were delivered to a clinic in Altoona and a clinic in the South Hills. The case reported in Central Pennsylvania today was a patient at Allegheny...