The FDA reported late today that the New England Compounding Center (NECC) – which generated fungus-infected steroid injections which were widely distributed, causing 214 known infections and 15 deaths to date – has more issues with other drugs. The steroids were injected in patients (epidural steroid injections) with common back and neck pain.
In investigating the current, ongoing catastrophe out of the Boston area NECC facility, the FDA identified a patient, with possible meningitis, who was injected with another NECC product: triamcinolone acetonide, is a synthetic corticosteroid.
Additionally, fungus infections from Aspergillis – which has been linked to the widespread fungal meningitis outbreak – have been reported in 2 heart transplant patients. These patients received cardioplegic solution from NECC, according to the FDA.
Last, but not least, another fungus identified and linked to the outbreak is Exserohilum. For information about this fungus at: http://www.cdc.gov/fungal/other/index.html It is a common mold found in soil and on plants and rarely causes infections in people, unless they have compromised immune systems.
Perhaps most alarming about some of the cases, is that 2 of them involve patients with joint infections (knee, hip, elbow, or shoulder) after being injected with methylprednisolone acetate, which is the original problematic, anti-inflammatory medication causing the meningitis outbreak.
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