As of yesterday, a total of 105 meningitis cases, including eight deaths, have been reported across nine states in connection to tainted spinal injections prepared by the New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Mass.
The numbers are the latest update from the CDC, as the government agency continues its investigation with the FDA.
The contaminated steroid injections have been recalled, and the CDC has issued recommendations for healthcare providers:
• Physicians should contact (by phone or in person) any patient who had an injection after May 21, 2012, using any of the three recalled lots of preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate (80 mg/mL) produced by NECC.
• Healthcare professionals should cease use of any product produced by NECC, all of which have been recalled.
• The CDC has updated clinician guidance addressing a range of issues, including interim instructions for diagnostic testing and specimen submission to the CDC.
For more information on the CDC's investigation or recommendations to healthcare providers, click here.
Sign up for our FREE E-Weekly for more coverage like this sent to your inbox!
The numbers are the latest update from the CDC, as the government agency continues its investigation with the FDA.
The contaminated steroid injections have been recalled, and the CDC has issued recommendations for healthcare providers:
• Physicians should contact (by phone or in person) any patient who had an injection after May 21, 2012, using any of the three recalled lots of preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate (80 mg/mL) produced by NECC.
• Healthcare professionals should cease use of any product produced by NECC, all of which have been recalled.
• The CDC has updated clinician guidance addressing a range of issues, including interim instructions for diagnostic testing and specimen submission to the CDC.
For more information on the CDC's investigation or recommendations to healthcare providers, click here.
More Articles on Patient Safety:
Recent Sterile Processing Stories
7 Steps to Better Quality Control at Orthopedics & Spine Surgery Centers
Case Study: Disclosure of Errors Should Include Conversations With Patient/Families