Update on Nationwide Meningitis Outbreak
CDC providing updated guidance for clinicians and patientsIn response to a nationwide outbreak of meningitis and stroke associated with a widely distributed medication, CDC is providing updated guidance to clinicians
As of October 5, a total of 47 cases* in 7 states and 5 deaths have been identified with a clinical picture consistent with fungal infection: Florida (2 cases), Indiana (3 cases), Maryland (2 cases, including 1 death), Michigan (4 cases), North Carolina (1 case), Tennessee (29 cases, including 3 deaths), and Virginia (6 cases, including 1 death). Fungus has been identified in specimens obtained from 9 patients, including Aspergillus and Exserohilum.
"All patients who may have received these medications need to be tracked down immediately. Patients can find the names of the clinics that used these medications on the CDC website," said Benjamin Park, M.D., medical officer, Mycotic Diseases Branch, CDC. "It is possible that if patients with infection are identified soon and put on appropriate antifungal therapy, lives may be saved."
Infected patients have developed a variety of symptoms approximately 1 to 4 weeks following their injection, including fever, new or worsening headache, nausea, and new neurological deficit (consistent with deep brain stroke). Some of these patients’ symptoms were very mild in nature. Cerebrospinal fluid obtained from these patients has shown findings consistent with meningitis.
On September 26, 2012, the New England Compounding Center voluntarily recalled the following lots of methylprednisolone acetate (PF) 80mg/ml:
- Methylprednisolone Acetate (PF) 80 mg/ml Injection, Lot #05212012@68, BUD 11/17/2012
- Methylprednisolone Acetate (PF) 80 mg/ml Injection, Lot #06292012@26, BUD 12/26/2012
- Methylprednisolone Acetate (PF) 80 mg/ml Injection, Lot #08102012@51, BUD 2/6/2013
Patients who have had an epidural steroid injection since May 21, 2012, and have any of the following symptoms, should talk to their doctor as soon as possible.
- Worsening headache
- Fever
- Sensitivity to light
- Stiff neck
- New weakness or numbness in any part of your body
- Slurred speech
Clinicians should inform their State health department of any patients undergoing evaluation for this infection. Clinicians should report any suspected adverse events following use of these products to FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-332-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch
The 23 states where the contaminated product was shipped are California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, and West Virginia. For a list of all of the facilities who have received contaminated product, please see: http://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/meningitis-facilities-map.html
*CDC Case Definition
- A person with meningitis1 of sub-acute onset (1-4 weeks) following epidural injection after May 21, 2012.
- A person, who has not received a lumbar puncture, with basilar stroke 1-4 weeks following epidural injection after May 21, 20122.
- A person with evidence of spinal osteomyelitis or epidural abscess at the site of an epidural injection diagnosed 1-4 weeks after epidural injection after May 21, 2012.
1clinically diagnosed meningitis meaning 1 or more of the following symptoms: headache, fever, stiff neck, or photophobia and a cerebrospinal fluid profile consistent with meningitis (elevated protein/low glucose/pleocytosis)
2These people, if possible, should have a lumbar puncture.
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