tcf-no-longer-accepting-cases

New England Compounding Center (NECC), a compounding pharmacy located in Massachusetts, has been identified as the source of contaminated steroid injections that have caused an outbreak of non-contagious fungal meningitis. Hundreds of people have been sickened, at least two dozen have died, and the outbreak continues to grow.

UPDATE

Click here to visit the CDC website for more information.

January 2, 2012 — At least 620 people have fallen ill and 39 have died. NECC has filed for bankruptcy and will seek to establish a compensation fund for the victims. Click here to read more.

November 26, 2012 — The CDC is reporting that 490 people have been diagnosed with meningitis, 12 people have been diagnosed with peripheral joint infections, and 34 people have died in 19 states. Most new cases since November 4 have involved non-meningitis fungal infections. Click here to read more.

November 12, 2012 — NECC has expressed support for centralization of nationwide fungal meningitis lawsuits into one court. The CDC reports 438 people have fallen ill and 32 have died in 19 states. Click here to read more.

November 5, 2012 — The nationwide total is 419 illnesses (including 10 joint infections) and 30 deaths in 19 states. As the incubation period ends, it is likely that the number of new cases will taper off. However, people with the disease may continue to require treatment for several months or more.

October 26, 2012 — The outbreak of fungal meningitis continues to spread, with more cases of joint infections. The CDC reports a total of 338 infections, including 7 peripheral joint infections and 331 cases of meningitis, stroke, or central nervous system infection. Of these, at least 25 people have died in 18 states.

October 25, 2012 — The CDC is reporting 328 infections linked to contaminated medicines (including 5 peripheral joint infections and 323 cases of fungal meningitis, stroke, or infection) including 24 deaths in 18 states.

October 24, 2012 — The CDC reports that, nationwide, 317 people have been infected (312 cases of fungal meningitis, stroke, or central nervous system infection, and 5 cases of peripheral joint infections), 24 people have died in 17 states.

October 23, 2012 — Nationwide, the CDC is reporting 308 cases (including 304 cases of fungal meningitis, stroke, or other central nervous system infection, and 4 cases of peripheral joint infections). Of these, 23 people have died in 17 states.

October 22, 2012 — The CDC is reporting that the number of illnesses has grown to 297 (including 294 cases of fungal meningitis and 3 peripheral joint infections) and 23 deaths. The number of states involved remains at 16.

October 19, 2012 — The CDC is reporting that, nationwide, 271 people have fallen ill (including 268 cases of fungal meningitis or stroke, and 3 joint infections). Of these, at least 21 have died. 16 states are involved in the outbreak.

October 17, 2012 — Nationwide, 247 people have fallen ill (including 245 cases of fungal meningitis, stroke, or other central-nervous system fungal infection; and 2 joint infections). Of these, 19 people have died in 15 states.

October 15, 2012 — The FDA has identified 3 possible cases of fungal infections caused by other medicines from New England Compounding Center (NECC), in addition to methylprednisolone acetate that has been linked to hundreds of illnesses. The other medicines are triamcinolone acetonide (a type of epidural steroid shot) and cardioplegic solution (commonly used during heart surgery). Click here for more information.

New England Compounding Center Recall

A preliminary investigation from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and several state health departments has traced an outbreak of fungal meningitis to epidural steroid injections from New England Compounding Center.

On September 26, 2012, New England Compounding Center issued a voluntary recall of three lots of methylprednisolone acetate, an epidural steroid injection commonly used to treat back pain in outpatient clinics. On October 5, 2012, the company expanded the recall to include all lots of all medications sold by the company — approximately 1,200 drugs and medical products. The company has rescinded their pharmacy license and shut down the facility.

The epidural steroid injections in question were sold to at least 75 clinics in 23 states. An estimated 13,000 people may have received injections with the recalled products. More than one hundred people have been sickened and at least a dozen have died.

What is a compounding pharmacy?

Compounding pharmacies create custom medications that are not available commercially — modern-day apothecaries, essentially. For example, a compounding pharmacy might take a solid medication and turn it into a liquid for a patient who cannot swallow. Or, they might mix a medication for a patient who is allergic to a certain ingredient. They also provide medications during drug shortages.

In the past, compounding pharmacies were small-scale operations, often located in hospitals. However, there is an increasing number of compounding pharmacies that wholesale bulk medications, like small-scale pharmaceutical companies, because they can often provide the drugs much more cheaply than large pharmaceutical companies. A growing number of compounding pharmacies operate factories that mass-produce drugs and sell them across state lines, even when there are no drug shortages.

Are compounding pharmacies regulated by the FDA?

Compounding pharmacies are in a regulatory limbo between 50 different state pharmacy boards and the federal U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although the FDA can step in and provide oversight in specific cases (such as during an outbreak), most oversight powers are in the hands of pharmacy boards. Unfortunately, experts say pharmacy boards lack the resources and expertise to inspect compounding pharmacies effectively. Furthermore, medicines produced by compounding pharmacies do not need to be evaluated for safety and effectiveness by the FDA.

New England Compounding Center Recalled Products

The following facilities have recalled epidural steroid injections from New England Compounding Center:

CYPRESS SURGERY CENTER DBA 559 740 4094 VISALIA CA
ENCINO OUTPATIENT SURGICENTER 818-986-1037 ENCINO CA
UKIAH VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER 707 463 7345 UKIAH CA
UNIVERSAL PAIN MANAGEMENAT 661-267-6876 x166 PALMDALE CA
INTERVENTIONAL SPINE AND SPORTS MED 203 598 7246 MIDDLEBURY CT
FLORIDA PAIN CLINIC 352-237-5906 OCALA FL
INTERVENTIONAL REHAB CENTER 850 484 8800 PENSACOLA FL
MARION PAIN MANAGEMENT CENTER 352 622 1845 OCALA FL
NORTH COUNTY SURGICENTER 561 626 6446 PALM BEACH GARDENS FL
ORLANDO CENTER FOR OUTPATIENT SURGERY 407-426-8331 ORLANDO FL
PAIN CONSULTANTS OF WEST FLORIDA 850 494 0000 PENSACOLA FL
SURGERY CENTER OF OCALA 352-237-5906 OCALA FL
SURGICAL PARK CENTER 305-271-9100 x226 MIAMI FL
FORSYTH STREET AMBULATORY SURG. CTR. 478-749-1610 MACON GA
PAIN SPECIALISTS OF IDAHO 208 522 7246 IDAHO FALLS ID
WALTER KNOX MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 208-365-3561 x3342 EMMETT ID
APAC CENTERS FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT 708-483-7007 WESTCHESTER IL
APAC CENTERS FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT- 773-935-2760 CHICAGO IL
THOREK MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 773 975-6734 CHICAGO IL
AMBULATORY CARE CENTER LLC 812 475 1800 EVANSVILLE IN
FORT WAYNE PHYSICAL MEDICINE 260-436-9337 FORT WAYNE IN
OSMC OUTPATIENT SURGERY CENTER 574-266-4173 ELKHART IN
SOUTH BEND CLINIC 574-237-9372 SOUTH BEND IN
UNION HOSPITAL– 812 238 4964 TERRE HAUTE IN
WELLSPRING 812-376-0700 COLUMBUS IN
BALTIMORE PAIN MANAGEMENT 410 682-5040 BALTIMORE MD
BERLIN INTERVENTIONAL PAIN MANAGEMENT 410 641 3759 BERLIN MD
BOX HILL SURGERY CENTER 410 877 8141 ABINGDON MD
GREENSPRING SURGERY CENTER 410 653 0077 BALTIMORE MD
HARFORD COUNTY ASC, LLC 410 538 7000 EDGEWOOD MD
PAIN MEDICINE SPECIALISTS 410 825 6945 TOWSON MD
SURGCENTER OF BEL AIR 410 638 5523 BEL AIR MD
MICHIGAN NEUROSURGICAL INST. 810 606 7112 GRAND BLANC MI
MICHIGAN PAIN SPECIALISTS 734 995 7246 BRIGHTON MI
NEUROMUSCULAR & REHABILITATION 231 935 0860 TRAVERSE CITY MI
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN SURGICAL HOSPITAL 586-427-1000 WARREN MI
MAPS-EDINA MEDICAL PAIN CLINIC 763 537 6000 MINNEAPOLIS MN
MAPS-MEDICAL ADVANCED PAIN 763 537 6000 FRIDLEY MN
MEDICAL ADVANCED PAIN SPECIALISTS* 763-537-6000 x238 SHAKOPEE MN
MEDICAL ADVANCED PAIN SPECIALISTS. 763 537 6000 MAPLE GROVE MN
MINNESOTA SURGERY CENTER 763-767-7139 EDINA MN
MINNESOTA SURGERY CENTER- 763 537 6000 MAPLE GROVE MN
HIGH POINT SURGERY 336 878 6048 HIGH POINT NC
NORTH CAROLINA ORTHOPAEDIC CLINIC 919 403 5148 DURHAM NC
SURGERY CENTER OF WILSON 252-237-5649 WILSON NC
DR. O’CONNELL’S PAIN CARE CTR 603-335-5070 MERRIMACK NH
DR. O’CONNELL’S PAINCARE CENTERS, INC 603 692 3166 SOMERSWORTH NH
CENTRAL JERSEY ORTHOPEDICS SPECIALISTS PC 908 561 2122 SOUTH PLAINFIELD NJ
EDISON SURGICAL CENTER 732 452 0123 EDISON NJ
IF PAIN ASSOCIATES / ISAIAH FLORENCE 201 287 1100 TEANECK NJ
PREMIER ORTHOPEDICS SURG. ASSOC., LLC 856 690 1750 VINELAND NJ
Comprehensive Pain Management 973 796 5216 SPARTA NJ
SOUTH JERSEY HEALTH CARE 856 363 1558 ELMER NJ
SOUTH JERSEY HEALTHCARE 856-641-7557 VINELAND NJ
SAHARA SURGERY CENTER 702-362-7874 LAS VEGAS NV
BUTANI, SUNIL H. PHYSICIAN PC 516 747 5042 MINEOLA NY
OBOSA MEDICAL SERVICES 914-530-2323 MOUNT VERNON NY
ROCHESTER BRAIN AND SPINE 585 334 5560 ROCHESTER NY
BKC PAIN SPECIALISTS,LLC 740-387-7246 MARION OH
CINCINNATI PAIN MANAGEMENT 513 891 0022 CINCINNATI OH
MARION PAIN CLINIC 740-375-0200 MARION OH
ORTHO-SPINE REHAB. CENTER, INC. DUBLIN OH
ALLEGHENY PAIN MANAGEMENT 814-940-2000 X 500 ALTOONA PA
SOUTH HILLS PAIN & REHAB ASSOC. 412 469 7722 JEFFERSON HILLS PA
NEW ENGLAND ANESTHESIOLOGY (NEA) 401-490-7530 WARWICK RI
OCEAN STATE PAIN MANAGEMENT 401 766 7700 WOONSOCKET RI
OCEAN STATE PAIN MANAGEMENT- 401 884 6070 EAST GREENWICH RI
INTERVENE MD 843-216-4844 MOUNT PLEASANT SC
PCA PAIN CARE CENTER- 865 835 5196 OAK RIDGE TN
SPECIALTY SURGERY CENTER 931-484-2500 x125 CROSSVILLE TN
ST. THOMAS OUTPATIENT NEUROSURGIACL 615 341 3433 NASHVILLE TN
DALLAS BACK PAIN MANAGEMENT 214 445 5077 DALLAS TX
HARRIS METHODIST SOUTHLAKE CENTER 817 748 8778 SOUTHLAKE TX
INSIGHT IMAGING-ROANOKE 540 581 0882 ROANOKE VA
NEW RIVER VALLEY SURGERY CENTER 540 639 5888 CHRISTIANSBURG VA
PARS INTERVENTIONAL PAIN 304 865 7277 PARKERSBURG WV

 

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