Fungal Meningitis Victim Toll Stands At 478 with 34 Deaths & Reports of New Complications
New Infection Complications Appearing in Fungal Meningitis Victims
After months of reports on the serious injuries and deaths resulting from the contaminated medicine that was produced by NECC at The New England Compounding Center of Framingham, Mass. most people would have expected this tragedy to have run its course. That is, unfortunately, not the case. As of November 25, 2012 the reported sicknesses stands at 478, the death toll at 34, and people who had already been identified with fungal meningitis and treated are, according to the CDC, experiencing new serious fungal meningitis complications. The complications include localized infections like epidural abscess, phlegmon, discitis, vertebral osteomyelitis, or arachnoiditis at the site of their injection which had not previously shown any indication of infection.
Because of these new complications, the CDC is recommending that anyone who was treated for fungal meningitis should strongly consider getting an MRI of their injection site about 2 to 3 weeks after their diagnosis of meningitis so that they can get early medical intervention of injection site infection for more effective treatment. Catching these newly formed infections early will help resolve the new infection more quickly and prevent the infection from becoming worse.
Additional Compounding Pharmacies Are Being Identified Operating with Bad Practices
The questions and investigation into the source of the original fungal meningitis outbreak at the Framingham Compounding Pharmacy has also spurred investigations at other compounding pharmacies. According to a report by L.L. Woodard a compounding pharmacy in Waltham, Massassachutes voluntarily surrendered its license and one in Florida has had its operation suspended after failing a state health inspection for a number of sanitation violations and improper record keeping.
