Localized fungal infections are developing around injection sites

The New England Compounding Center (NECC) manufactured a tainted epidural steroid injection, that resulted in a fungal meningitis outbreak over two months age. Now, according to state health officials in Tennessee, some patients who received doses of methylprednisolone acetate are developing localized fungal infections around the injection site. The Tennessee Department of Health has identified 22 new cases of illness linked directly to the medication since Thanksgiving.

According to John Dreyzehner, Tennessee’s Health Commissioner, the infections are under the skin, making it hard for patients to see them. Not only that, but signs of the infection are often similar to the original symptoms that the patient sought steroid injections for in the first place. ”If we are not vigilant for these localized infections, we indeed could have a second wave of meningitis for some people,” said Dreyzehner.

The new cases tend to be less severe, and can involve both patients who previously showed no symptoms, and patients with secondary infections who were already treated for meningitis. It is important to identify the new localized infection as early as possible due to the possible risk of meningitis if left untreated.

Localized infections can include:

Abscesses
Arachnoiditis
Painful Inflammation
Numbness
Loss of Bowel Control
Loss of Bladder Control

Tennessee’s chief medical officer, Dr. David Reagan, said, “In some patients the localized infection stays localized for many weeks or even a few months before causing enough symptoms that lead to its detection.”

Health officials still do not know when people who received the contaminated steroid injections will be out of danger, said Dreyzehner.

Nationally, the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) has reported 560 cases of illness related to the fungal meningitis outbreak and 36 deaths.

If you or a loved one has suffered injury or death due to a defective or dangerous pharmaceutical, you may have a right to compensation for your injuries. The Maher Law Firm and Frank Eidson Attorney At Law would like to help. We invite you to contact our trial tested dangerous drug attorneys today.