Sorry for the lack of posts as of late, I’ve been a little swamped lately with writing and researching; unfortunately this blog has to suffer sometimes.
I don’t have time to write a complete post right now – maybe soon in the future – but I’ve been closely following the cases of fungal meningitis derived from contaminated injections of the steroid methylprednisolone acetate. Looks like the main culprit is Exserohilum rostratum, although one person has been infected with a species of Aspergillus. Both of these fungi are extremely common in soils and are plant pathogens.
Here’s some links from the CDC on the current infections:
As of today, October 12th, the number of infections have been reported from numerous states:
Here’s a quick informational video on fungal meningitis:
Here are some links to news articles published over the few weeks:
CDC: Multistate Meningitis Outbreak Investigation
NYT: Interactive Map – Tracking an outbreak
Meningitis: Top 10 Things CDC Says You Should Know
Fungal Meningitis From Injections: Not Even Close To Over
Republicans Grill FDA Chief On Meningitis Outbreak
Despite Antifungal Treatment, More Woes For Some Meningitis Patients
Pharmacy Owners Had No Hand In Meningitis Outbreak: Lawyers
Second Illness Is Infecting Those Struck by Meningitis
Fungal Meningitis: 404 Cases, 29 Deaths
More bacteria, fungi in drugs from Mass pharmacy
Elio Schaechter’s Small Things Considered: Fungal Meningitis
‘Worried Sick’: Meningitis Risk Haunts 14,000
Documents in Meningitis Case Show Complaints in 1999
Meningitis Outbreak: FDA re-releases list of customers
Meningitis Outbreak Spurs Calls To Strengthen FDA
Meningitis spreads to 19th state, sickens 347
PDF of Food & Drug Administration Assessment of Pharmacy Sterility
FDA: Mold seen in 83 vials of the steroid linked to fungal meningitis outbreak
FDA: Meningitis-linked Pharmacy Knew of Bacteria
Records Show Problems at Steroid Pharmacy as Far Back as ’06
Investigators visit office tied to meningitis cases
Steroid shot near spine gives illness an opening
Fungal meningitis outbreak tied to steroid shots isn’t the first, reports show
NBC News – Experts: Many ways for fungi to taint drugs / Four more die in fungal meningitis outbreak
Sterility Found Lacking at Drug Site in Outbreak
FDA warns of further risk from tainted drugs
Meningitis outbreak rises to 205 cases: CDC
Meningitis: 5th case reported in Minnesota, all women
Another death reported in meningitis outbreak
Legal recriminations begin over major U.S. meningitis outbreak
Lawmakers focus on small drugmakers as meningitis death toll rises
Rare fungal meningitis outbreak spreads to six states
Seven deaths reported in growing meningitis outbreak; second fungus found
U.S. meningitis deaths rise, prompting call for tighter drug rules
Meningitis cases raise questions about steroid shots
CDC: 12 more people infected with fungal meningitis linked to Framingham pharmacy
F.D.A. says avoid drugs from company tied to meningitis
When leaf mold gets in your steroid injection
Meningitis outbreak: 13,000 got suspect steroid shots
Epidural steroid shots debated amid meningitis scare
Rare fungal meningitis outbreak rises; 7 dead, 64 sick
Meningitis outbreak kills seven; continues spreading to ninth state
Fungal meningitis: Know the subtle symptoms
More patients linked to fungal meningitis infections, CDC says
Meningitis outbreak 2012: Steroid related fungal meningitis cases rise to 47
Seven deaths reported in growing meningitis outbreak; second fungus found
U.S. fungal meningitis infections rise to 47
CDC: Death toll in rare fungal meningitis outbreak linked to steroid injections rises to 7
Boston: Former regulator calls for more oversight of compounding pharmacies
UPDATE (December 21st, 2012): CDC Recommends Assertive Clinical Evaluation of Potential Fungal Meningitis Patients
UPDATE (December 21st, 2012): Tainted steroids cause spine infections in addition to meningitis; all patients face grueling recovery
UPDATE (January 6th, 2013): Massachusetts governor offers new pharmacy rules
