Patients who have received an epidural steroid injection at any time since May 21, 2012 may be subject to serious health complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and public health officials, are sweeping the nation in an investigation linking a fungal meningitis outbreak to epidural steroid injections.
The New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Mass. has recalled the product which they had shipped beginning 5 months ago. The company has issued the recall for the following steroid medications which present a serious health risk to patients who have received injections:
- Methylprednisolone Acetate (PF) 80 mg/ml Injection, Lot #05212012@68, BUD 11/17/2012
- Methylprednisolone Acetate (PF) 80 mg/ml Injection, Lot #06292012@26, BUD 12/26/2012
- Methylprednisolone Acetate (PF) 80 mg/ml Injection, Lot #08102012@51, BUD 2/6/2013
The above medications were recalled as of September 25, 2012, however, on October 6, 2012, another statement was released stating the all products that had been compounded in the New England Compounding Center within the past 5 months must be recalled. Fungus has been found in up to 50 vials so far, yet the CDC and the FDA continue to lead investigations in many states across the country.
The CDC has totaled 170 cases in 11 states so far, accounting for 14 deaths to date. While only 11 states have recorded outbreaks of fungal meningitis, the New England Compounding Center has stated that the fungus is present in 75 health care facilities as of October 11, 2012. Approximately 17,676 doses of the epidural steroid have been shipped to 23 states in the U.S.
Current projections estimate that as many as 14,000 patients may have received this epidural steroid injection to treat their back pain or any other serious joint pain. Clinicians have been instructed by the CDC to contact their patients immediately either by phone or in person. The CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion believes that about 90 percent of the patients who had received the injection have been notified of the health risks present.
If you or a loved one has received this epidural steroid injection within the last 5 months in the state of California, you may be subject to serious health complications. Fungal meningitis is a serious threat and the New England Compounding Center must be held liable for the damages that are caused.