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Fungal meningitis outbreak responsible for 12 deaths
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An outbreak of non-contagious fungal meningitis has affected 137 people in 10 states and resulted in 12 deaths, according to the most recent CDC data.
The FDA and the CDC have reported that the outbreak stems from an epidural steroid injection manufactured by the New England Compounding Center (NECC); specifically, three lots of 80 mg/mL preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate. The facility has initiated a voluntary recall of all products currently in circulation.
The CDC has advised physicians to contact patients who received an injection from one of the three lots of methylprednisolone acetate, which were circulated starting May 21. Symptoms include fever, new or worsening headache, neck stiffness, sensitivity to light, new weakness or numbness, increasing pain and/or redness or swelling of the injection site. Onset of the symptoms was typically 1 to 4 weeks after injection.
States that received products from the three affected lots include: California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas and West Virginia.
A list of all recalled products can be found at
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm322752.htm.