https://immattersacp.org/weekly/archives/2012/10/16/7.htm

CDC offers updated guidance on national meningitis outbreak due to contaminated methylprednisolone

The CDC is offering updated guidance on the current national meningitis outbreak.


The CDC is offering updated guidance on the current national meningitis outbreak.

As of Oct. 14, 2012, the CDC has reported 203 cases of fungal meningitis plus two peripheral joint infections, and 15 deaths. The outbreak is the result of three contaminated lots of methylprednisolone acetate, 80 mg/mL injection, prepared at the New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Mass. (lot numbers 05212012@68, 06292012@26, and 08102012@51).

A list of approximately 75 health care facilities in 23 states that received contaminated products is available online, as is updated information for clinicians and patients.

The CDC is urging clinicians to contact patients who have received an injection from one of the recalled lots to determine if they are having any symptoms of meningitis, and to notify the state health department of any patients undergoing evaluation for infection. Any suspected adverse events should be reported to the FDA's MedWatch program. The CDC has also advised that clinicians avoid using any products from the New England Compounding Center “out of an abundance of caution.”

More information is available online.