Attorney Fred Pritzker is investigating a multi-state outbreak of meningitis linked to epidural spinal injections with a steroid product (methylprednisolone acetate (Solumedrol)) made by New England Compounding Center of Framingham, Massachusetts. Eight Maryland residents were sickened in this outbreak, and one of them died. The evidence against New England Compounding Center is mounting, and victims and families can contact Fred for a free consultation here regarding a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Fred represents meningitis victims and their families nationwide and has won millions for his clients, including over $40,000,000 for clients injured by another medical product.
This situation was first identified when a cluster of patients in a Nashville, Tennessee ambulatory care clinic developed meningitis or stroke symptoms within 1 month of receiving an epidural spinal injection with a steroid. Aspergillus and Exserohilum were identified in patients; no organism has been identified in the others. There are also cases in 9 other states.
Maryland DHMH has contacted all the facilities where implicated lots of this product were distributed to ensure removal of the product and to facilitate notification of patients potentially exposed from July 30 to September 28, 2012.
Facilities that have received and pulled from use the potentially contaminated steroid product are:
Berlin Interventional Pain Management, Berlin, MD
Box Hill Surgery Center, Abingdon, MD
Greenspring Surgery Center, Baltimore, MD
Harford County Ambulatory Surgery Center, Edgewood, MD
Maryland Pain Specialists, Towson, MD
SurgCenter of Bel Air, Bel Air, MD Zion Ambulatory Center, Baltimore, MD
Symptoms of meningitis can include but are not limited to fever, headache, neck stiffness, photophobia, nausea, or vomiting. Stroke symptoms can include but are not limited to double vision, slurred speech, weakness on one side of the body, or difficulty walking. Patients who have received a spinal injection at one of these facilities from July 30 to September 28, 2012 and are experiencing new symptoms consistent with meningitis or stroke should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
See also: Fungal Meningitis Linked to Steroids and Meningitis Linked to Steroids in Nashville, Tennessee.
