Tuesday, October 09, 2012

HEALTH - Compounding Pharmacy and Steroid Drug Contamination

"Tainted Steroid Drugs Caused Deadly Meningitis Outbreak In Nine States" PBS Newshour 10/8/2012

Excerpt

JEFFREY BROWN (Newshour): A rare but deadly outbreak of meningitis is raising concerns for thousands of patients nationwide, and sparking questions about the way certain pharmacies are regulated.

The outbreak has been linked to tainted steroid injections used to help fight back pain. The medication was distributed by a pharmacy located just outside of Boston.

The New England Compounding Center had already recalled the steroid. And on Saturday, it issued a voluntary recall for all of its products from the Framingham, Mass., site.

But it came too late for 105 people who contracted a rare form of fungal meningitis, including eight who died. Family members say the victims were stricken with little warning.

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