Florida Fungal Meningitis Cases Total Eighteen

Oct 22 • 9 Views • View Comments

Contact: DOH Communications
Jessica Hammonds, (850) 245-4111

FLORIDA FUNGAL MENINGITIS CASES TOTAL EIGHTEEN
~Nationwide total reaches 285~

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Health (DOH) today confirmed one additional case of fungal meningitis associated with contaminated lots of methylprednisolone acetate. A 55 year old man who received treatment at Pain Consultants of West Florida in Escambia County is the state’s newest case.

“We continue to support the ongoing investigation of New England Compounding Center (NECC) medications by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. “We remain vigilant in identifying new patients with fungal meningitis related to contaminated NECC medications so that they may receive care as quickly as possible.”

The FDA in conjunction with the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy and the CDC, initially recalled three lots of methylprednisolone acetate principally used for epidural back injections on September 25. These contaminated lots have been implicated in the nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak, which has affected 285 individuals across 16 states.

The expanded recall notice on Oct. 5 included 12 injectable products from NECC. With FDA guidance, NECC voluntarily recalled all NECC medications on Oct. 6. The FDA also issued a MedWatch Alert on Oct. 15 advising health care professionals and facilities to conduct outreach to any patient who may have received any injectable NECC medications, including those used in eye or heart surgeries, since May 21, 2012. DOH continues to collaborate with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, professional medical associations and affected clinics to ensure that NECC medications are recalled appropriately in Florida.

The signs and symptoms of meningitis related to epidural NECC medication injections include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light and altered mental status. Symptoms for other possible infections related to NECC medications include fever; swelling, increasing pain, redness, warmth at injection site; vision changes, pain, redness or discharge from the eye; chest pain, or drainage from the surgical site (infection within the chest).

DOH will continue to update our website at http://newsroom.doh.state.fl.us/. We have set up a toll-free hotline at 1-866-523-7339 for those who may have additional questions. To view the FDA’s list of NECC products, please visit http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm322979.htm.

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