Second Drug Linked to Meningitis Outbreak

A second injectable drug has been linked to deadly meningitis outbreak which has led to four New Hampshire patients contracting fungal meningitis. Nationwide, 200 people have contracted meningitis and 15 have died. The most recent case of fungal meningitis involved a product manufactured by New England Compunding Center (NECC) called triamcinolone acetonide.
According to the Union Leader, “The FDA said it has not confirmed that the three infections were caused by NECC products, and said it issued the warning out of “an abundance of caution.”

Patients who received products sold or produced by NECC after May 21 “should be warned of the potential risk of infection,” the agency said. However no direct patient follow-up has been urged for patients who received lotions, creams, or eye drops not used during surgery. “Products such as lotions and cremes and eye drops are not a concern,” Montero said. “The reason for concern is (putting) contaminated product in a place in the body that is sterile.”