Chrome 2001
.
Aetna Intelihealth InteliHealth Aetna Intelihealth Aetna Intelihealth
 
     
.
. .
.
Home
Health Commentaries
InteliHealth Dental
Drug Resource Center
Ask the Expert
Interactive Tools

InteliHealth Policies
Site Map

   Advertisement
Mindbloom Ad .
Diseases & Conditions Healthy Lifestyle Your Health Look It Up
Health News Health News
.
Health News
333
Men's Health
13,000 Got Suspect Steroid Shots; Risk Uncertain
13,000 Got Suspect Steroid Shots; Risk Uncertain
apdigital_2012_10_08_ap.online.health-medical_DA1PMO0O2_news_ap_org.anpa
NEW YORK (AP) -- As many as 13,000 people received steroid shots suspected in a national meningitis outbreak, health officials said Monday. But it's not clear how many are in danger.
1458586
InteliHealth
2012-10-09
t
Associated Press
2012-11-08
Associated Press

13,000 Got Suspect Steroid Shots; Risk Uncertain
October 9, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) -- As many as 13,000 people received steroid shots suspected in a national meningitis outbreak, health officials said Monday. But it's not clear how many are in danger.

Officials don't how many of the shots may have been contaminated with meningitis-causing fungus tied to the outbreak. And the figure includes not only those who got them in the back for pain -- who are most at risk -- but also those who got the shots in other places, like knees and shoulders.

Those injected in joints are not believed to be at risk for fungal meningitis, said Curtis Allen, a spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He said there was no breakdown available of how many had the shots in the back or in joints.

The CDC count of cases reached 105 on Monday, including eight deaths. A ninth death was reported late Monday by a Nashville, Tenn., hospital.

Tennessee has the most cases, followed by Michigan, Virginia, Indiana, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina and Ohio.

All had received shots for back pain, and investigators suspect a steroid medication made by a specialty pharmacy. About 17,700 single-dose vials of the steroid sent to 23 states have been recalled. Inspectors found at least one sealed vial contaminated with fungus, and tests were being done on other vials.

The first known case of the rarely seen fungal meningitis was diagnosed last month in Tennessee. The steroid maker, New England Compounding Center of Framingham, Mass., recalled the drug, and over the weekend recalled everything else it makes.

"While there is no indication at this time of any contamination in other NECC products, this recall is being taken as a precautionary measure," the company said in a statement.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, and a back injection would put any contaminant in more direct contact with that lining.

Symptoms on meningitis include severe headache, nausea, dizziness and fever. The CDC said many of the cases have been mild and some people had strokes. Symptoms have been appearing between one and four weeks after patients got the shots.

A Michigan man whose wife's death was linked to the outbreak said Monday that he, too, was treated with steroids from one of the recalled batches.

"Not only have I lost my wife, but I'm watching the clock to see if anything develops," George Cary said, as friends and family gathered for his wife's wake in Howell, 60 miles northwest of Detroit.

His wife, Lilian, 67, had been ill since late August, but meningitis wasn't detected until Sept. 22, her husband said. She suffered a stroke and died Sept. 30, he said.

Michigan officials have not released the names of two people who have died in the outbreak in that state, but did say one was a 67-year-old woman.

Fungal meningitis is not contagious like the more common forms. The two types of fungus linked so far to the outbreak are all around, but very rarely causes illness. Fungal meningitis is treated with high-dose antifungal medications, usually given intravenously in a hospital.

The steroid is known as preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate, which the compounding pharmacy creates by combining a powder with a liquid.

Doctors should contact any patient who got doses from any of the recalled lots, and should look back at their records as far back as mid-May, CDC officials say.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

.
InteliHealth
. . . .
.
More News
InteliHealth .
.
General Health
Top News
This Week In Health
Addiction
Allergy
Alzheimer's
Asthma
Arthritis
Babies
Breast Cancer
Cancer
Caregiving
Cervical Cancer
Children's Health
Cholesterol
Complementary & Alternative Medicine
Dental / Oral Health
Depression
Diabetes
Ear, Nose And Throat
Environmental Health
Eyes
Family Health
Fitness
Genetics
Headache
Health Policy
HIV / AIDS
Heart Health
Lung Cancer
Medications
Infectious Diseases
Men's Health
Nutrition News
Mental Health
Multiple Sclerosis
Nutrition Guide
Parkinson's
Pregnancy
Prevention
Prostate Cancer
Senior Health
Sexual / Reproductive Health
Sleep
Tobacco Cessation
STDs
Stress Reduction
Stroke
Weight Management
Today In Health History
Women's Health
Workplace Health
.
.
.
.
InteliHealth

   
steroid,fungal,meningitis,fungus
342
.
.  
This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.
.
Chrome 2001
Chrome 2001