Florence physicians received products from Meningitis outbreak pharmacy

FLORENCE – The North Alabama Medical Center–Coffee Campus, according to a report by The Alabama Department of Public Health, ADPH, received products from New England Compounding Pharmacy, NECC. NECC is implicated in the deadly meningitis outbreak that, so far, has killed 20 or more victims, according to The Centers For Disease Control in Atlanta.

In a press release, ADPH released a list of health care facilities in Alabama that received products included in a third recall from NECC. These products have no known association with confirmed disease nor have they been proven to be contaminated. Public health officials have notified each facility in order to ensure that NECC products have been removed from their inventory and to discuss the process for contacting their patients.

the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and ADPH have asked health care facilities to notify all individuals for whom they administered an injectable NECC product, including an ophthalmic drug that is injectable or used in conjunction with eye surgery, or a cardioplegic solution after May 21, 2012. The types of procedures include, but are not limited to, epidurals, joint injections, eye surgeries, and heart surgeries.  

“Alabama health care facilities have had very limited exposure to NECC products, but individuals who have had certain medical procedures using these specific products are being notified,” Dr. Donald Williamson, state health officer, said. “If you have had adverse reactions, contact your health care provider.”

Nineteen Alabama residents have received NECC contaminated steroid products from procedures in Tennessee and Florida. If any patients are identified with symptoms suggestive of meningitis or other infections, they should be referred to the appropriate medical provider. In addition, a report should be made to both FDA MedWatch (1-800-332-1088 orwww.fda.gov/medwatch) and to ADPH (1-800-338-7384 or www.adph.org, Meningitis Outbreak).

Patients who had a procedure at one of the identified facilities after May 21, 2012, should self-monitor for at least 3 months following the procedure for the signs and symptoms of an adverse event, meningitis or infection related to their procedure. Symptoms of fungal meningitis are new or worsening headache, fever, sensitivity to light, stiff neck, new weakness or numbness in any part of your body, slurred speech, increased pain, and redness or swelling at your injection site.  

Symptoms of joint infections are fever, increased pain, redness, warmth or swelling in the joint that received the injection or at the injection site. Infections at other sites may involve fever, chills, redness, swelling, drainage and pain. If you experience any of these, please contact your primary care provider and the health care facilities that performed the procedure.

To speak to a pharmacist about NECC products, please call FDA Drug Information 855-543-DRUG (3784).