Meningitis Death Toll Climbs as More NECC Drugs Implicated

Atlanta, GAThe multi-state fungal meningitis outbreak continues to spread, with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now stating that 214 cases have been reported in 15 states, and the death toll has reached 15.

As investigations by the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and state health authorities continue, information is now coming to light indicating more than one drug may be implicated in the meningitis outbreaks. According to a statement released on Monday, October 15 by the FDA, a patient with possible meningitis was recently identified who had received an injection of another drug, triamcinolone acetonide, which was also produced at the New England Compounding (NECC) center in MA.

The FDA also states that in addition to the possible meningitis potentially associated with epidural injection triamcinolone acetonide “…two transplant patients with Aspergillus fumigatus infection who were administered NECC cardioplegic solution during surgery have been reported. Investigation of these patients is ongoing; and there may be other explanations for their Aspergillus infection. Cardioplegic solution is used to induce cardiac muscle paralysis during open heart surgery to prevent injury to the heart.”

According to a report by CNN.com the heart transplant patient received the cardioplegic solution in August, and the patient who received the triamcinolone injection was treated on September 19 — both before NECC recalled its products.

The CDC states on its website that several patients suffered strokes that are believed to have resulted from their infection. The investigation also includes fungal infections associated with injections in a peripheral joint space, such as a knee, shoulder or ankle.

The NECC products recalled on September 26, 3012 were three lots of preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate (80mg/ml).