Attorney Fred Pritzker recently won over $40,000,000 for clients injured by an unsafe medical product. Now he and his Bad Bug Law Team are representing patients sickened by a steroid product contaminated with fungus that was sent to 23 states, including Idaho. Fred can be contacted for a free consultation here regarding a meningitis lawsuit.
An Eastern Idaho man over the age of 60 who received an epidural steroid injection in September has been diagnosed with fungal meningitis. His case one of over 200 cases of fungal meningitis (Aspergillus and Exserohilum) linked to a steroid product, specifically 3 lots of preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate, made by New England Compounding Center (NECC), a compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts.
Two Idaho facilities received shipments of the recalled injections — Walter Knox Memorial Hospital in Emmett, and Pain Specialists of Idaho in Idaho Falls. From the initial investigation, four people received injections from Walter Knox, while the Idaho Falls pain clinic treated 35 people. Both Idaho facilities received shipments of the recalled injections after July 1.
The NECC steroid medication, generally used for back pain, was injected directly into patients’ spines, so any fungus in the NECC steroid would move quickly to the meninges, the lining surrounding the spine and brain, causing the deadly spinal infection called meningitis. All of the outbreak meningitis case patients received an injection with preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate prepared by NECC.
The New England Compounding Center has voluntarily closed. All of its products have been recalled or are currently being withheld from use.
