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Another Case Of Meningitis Linked to Escambia County Clinic
October 18, 2012
Another case of fungal meningitis associated with contaminated steroid injections from Pain Consultants of West Florida in Escambia County was confirmed Wednesday by the Florida Department of Health.
The latest patient, a 28-year old woman in Escambia County, is the 13th case in Florida. Two other patients of the Davis Highway clinic — a 78-year old man and a 47-year old man — were previously diagnosed with fungal meningitis.
In all, three patients in Florida have died from fungal meningitis.
“One death is too many. We extend our condolences to his family and loved ones during this challenging time,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. “We remain focused on contacting all patients who may have received contaminated NECC steroid injections to ensure that they receive appropriate medical attention.”
All contaminated lots of NECC steroid injections in Florida have been returned in accordance with FDA recall procedures.
Comments
2 Responses to “Another Case Of Meningitis Linked to Escambia County Clinic”
The contamination occurred due to lack of aseptic technique at a compounding pharmacy. Nothing was mixed with the steroids. Compounding pharmacies make up preparations of drugs to make them cheaper and give patients options but the pharmaceutical compounding industry is not regulated by federal authorities-oversight falls to individual states. Medical experts say: ” Compounding of preservative-free corticosteroids requires meticulous sterility to ensure lack of fungal contamination; in the absence of that level of sterility and in an environment of highly concentrated steroids, fungi grow aggressively.”
It was an accident and sad case of poor regulation of ingredients that need very scrupulous hygiene.
What substance was mixed into the steroid medications that causes fungal meningitis in people? Surely a lab that mixes pain killers does not have access to bacteria or viruses that could cause an epidemic (like small pox) if used by the wrong people.