Here is a article from MedPages Today: http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/GeneralNeurology/35326?utm_source=breaking-news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=breaking-news
From the article:
Two other drugs made by the New England Compounding Center (NECC) appear to be involved in the fatal meningitis outbreak that has now claimed the lives of 15 people in as many states, the FDA announced Monday.
The FDA said today it is investigating one case of possible meningitis associated with an epidural injection of triamcinolone acetonide and two reports of fungal infection with Aspergillus fumigatus in two transplant patients who were given cardioplegic solution made by the company.
Looks like this company and the MA BOP just found a lot more alligators in the swamp that they were trying to drain.
Filed under: General Problems
from a friend of mine:
“With all the news articles and reports about the alleged meningitis contamination of injectable products manufactured by the new England Compounding Center, I can’t help but wonder why no one has questioned the qualifications of those who performed the compounding. It’s obvious on its face that they were not pharmacists because the current standard of practice pretty much throughout the country, is that compounding is relegated to pharmacy technicians. That of course, is idiotic, but it’s the way things are. And worse, the public doesn’t know it, and the prescribers either don’t know it, or don’t care. The boards of pharmacy have been heavily lobbied by pharmacists and by the industry, and by and large, condone it. The Food and Drug Administration is aware of it, but has been largely acquiescent. It reminds me of a similar situation a few years ago (beginning 5-11-2001) at Doc’s Pharmacy in Walnut Creek, California, where injectable doses were compounded in batch form (similar to the New England case) and multiple patients were harmed. Those vials were prepared by technicians in a room which also contained a bubbling fish aquarium. And I hate to say it, but Doc’s Pharmacy was owned by a classmate of mine from UCSF. Why can’t pharmacists learn from their mistakes? Or as the old song says: “… When will they ever learn? …”