The Roanoke Times is reporting today that 700 people in the Roanoke and New River Valleys may have received spinal injections tainted with fungal meningitis. One fatality last month at Lewis-Gale Medical Center in Salem, Virginia has been linked to the outbreak. The recalled medication, a single-dose vial of steroid, preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate, is often used as a treatment for back pain.
Massachusetts health officials said Thursday that the pharmacy involved, New England Compounding Center of Framingham, Mass., has recalled three lots consisting of a total of 17,676 single-dose vials of the steroid, preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate.
Health officials are advising patients who had spinal injection procedures at Insight Imaging in Roanoke or New River Valley Surgical Center in Christiansburg to determine if they have developed any new symptoms since their spinal injection. Patients are also being advised to seek immediate evaluation and let a physician know about this investigation and the concern for possible infection. Symptoms of concern are new or worsening headache, fever, localized weakness, falls, difficulty walking, slurred speech or other symptoms that may suggest a stroke.
If you have questions or concerns that you may be experiencing illness after receiving a spinal injection, please contact your health care provider. For more information, you can also call your local health department.
Updated information can be found on the Roanoke.com website.
If you or someone you love has been sickened or killed by a dangerous medication or product, call Roanoke Attorney, Paul Thomson, of The Thomson Law Firm, (540) 777-4900, for a free case evaluation today.
