In the United States, the number of cases of fungal meningitis caused by a contaminated steroidal analgesic administered by injection into the spine has increased. So far, seven people have died and at least 105 have fallen ill from it.
This was reported on Monday by the Center for Infectious Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta.
The contaminated preparation, which found its way into medical facilities in 23 states, is being withdrawn from the market. Hundreds of patients are potentially at risk.
These are cases of fungal meningitis, not the more common bacterial or viral meningitis. This variety cannot be infected from another person, said CDC spokesman Curtis Allen.
The highest number of cases was confirmed in Tennessee, where three people died and 32 fell ill. In Nashville alone, 738 patients were contacted who received contaminated preparation between May 21 and September 30.
The specimen was produced by the New England Compounding Center (NECC) company based in Framingham, Massachusetts. It is estimated that the contaminated batch of the drug – about 17,7 thousand. vials – went to 76 medical facilities in 23 states. NECC representatives said that other preparations produced by this company were not contaminated.
The type of fungus responsible for contamination of the preparation is Aspergillus. It is found in humid places both outdoors and indoors, and is very rare in humans, said William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
By Monday, cases of the disease had been confirmed in nine out of 23 states where the drug was delivered. They are: Tennessee, Michigan, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana, and Ohio.
Medical services contact people who were administered the contaminated preparation. At the same time, it was called for patients to see a doctor immediately after experiencing symptoms such as headache, fever, stiff neck, fatigue, speech disorders, difficulty walking or a red rash. It was emphasized that early diagnosis of the disease avoids serious complications that can lead to death.
From Chicago Joanna Trzos (PAP)
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