2 new drugs tied to meningitis, fungal infection in multi-state outbreak

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The investigation into apparent contamination of injectable back pain medication from the New England Compounding Center has expanded to include two other products from the Massachusetts pharmacy.

While most of the reported infections involve fungal meningitis in patients who received epidural injections of methylprednisolone acetate, the Food and Drug Administration reports that one patient has developed possible meningitis symptoms after receiving a lower back injection of a different steroid from the NECC called triamcinolone acetone.

The FDA is also investigating reports that two heart transplant patients have developed fungal infections after receiving the NECC’s cardioplegic solution, a medication used to paralyze the cardiac muscle to prevent injury during open heart surgery. Although the agency says it’s too early to determine whether these apparent infections are linked to the medication, or some other cause.

Additionally, the FDA is concerned about the NECC’s ophthalmic drugs used in injections or in connection with eye surgery, because they’re processed under similar conditions. However, no infections associated with the NECC’s ophthalmic drugs have been reported so far.

 

Fox News has the full article

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