COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
South Carolina health
officials are reporting the first probable case of fungal meningitis in a state
resident related to the ongoing multi state investigation of steroid injections
from a potentially contaminated product called methylprednisolone acetate, the
state's Department of Health and Environmental Control reported Wednesday.
"The patient is being treated with
antifungal medications based on treatment guidelines recommended by the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," said Dr. Linda Bell, M.D. and
Interim State Epidemiologist. "Fungal meningitis poses no additional risk to
others, as it is not transmitted from person to person."
Bell said the New England Compounding
Company in Framingham, Massachusetts, prepared the three lots of steroid
injection implicated in the investigation. Nearly 14,000 persons in 23 states
were exposed to the potentially contaminated steroid injection between May 21
and September 26, 2012.
Additional laboratory testing is pending
to confirm the diagnosis of fungal meningitis in the S.C. patient and rule out
other potential causes of meningitis. At this time, the case is considered
probable.
Nationally, 317 cases of fungal meningitis
have been identified to date and there have been 24 deaths. The CDC and the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration are coordinating the multi state meningitis
investigation.
DHEC has been working with healthcare
providers to raise awareness about patients who have symptoms that suggest
possible fungal infection. All local area patients who received spinal/epidural
injections from NECC have been notified and are aware of the need to contact their
healthcare provider immediately if symptoms of meningitis or stroke occur.
Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to
light, altered mental status and difficulty walking, speaking or moving.
Most local patients that received other
injectable products at other body sites from NECC have also been notified.
Symptoms of infections may include fever, swelling, increasing pain, redness,
warmth at injection site, visual changes, pain, redness or discharge from the
eye, chest pain or drainage from the surgical site.
Residents and healthcare providers will
find additional information at the CDC website at:
http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/meningitis.html.
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