DPH reaches all recipients of recalled steroid

The state Department of Public Health today announced that all 39 of the Connecticut patients who may have received injections with the recalled medication linked to a multi-state outbreak of fungal meningitis have been contacted.

No cases of fungal meningitis related to this outbreak have been identified in Connecticut at this time, the department said in a news release.

Of the 39 patients contacted, 38 had no concerning symptoms and did not require evaluation by their healthcare provider. One patient underwent evaluation and test results were normal, the department said. Patients were informed of the current situation, educated regarding which symptoms to look out for, and advised to contact the practice and seek treatment in the emergency room should any of these symptoms develop.

One Connecticut practice, Interventional Spine & Sports Medicine in Middlebury, received one of the recalled lots of medication implicated in the national meningitis outbreak. This facility is one of approximately 75 facilities in 23 states that received the recalled medication.

The Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration are coordinating a multi-state investigation of fungal meningitis among patients who received an epidural steroid injection. Several of these patients also suffered strokes that are believed to have resulted from their infection. As of October 9 a total of 119 cases have been reported in 10 states, including 11 deaths. Fungal meningitis is not transmitted from person to person.

For information about the multistate meningitis outbreak investigation, visit www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/meningitis.html.