More contaminated products found at New England Compounding Center
CDC investigations have found that other products produced by the New England Compounding Center, which was responsible for the steroidal injections leading to a nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak, are contaminated with several Bacillus species and other bacterial organisms.
According to an official CDC Health Advisory, these bacteria have rarely been reported to cause human disease, but it is not known how the product contamination will affect patients. CDC has not received laboratory-confirmed cases of infection due to these organisms, linked to these products.
The affected products are betamethasone and cardioplegia solutions. All products produced by this facility were voluntarily recalled on Oct. 6, after an outbreak of fungal meningitis related to three lots of methylprednisolone acetate produced by the facility.
The CDC and FDA continue to advise health care professionals to cease use of any product produced by the New England Compounding Center. They reiterate that these bacteria rarely cause human disease, but they can be considered possible skin contaminants.