Contamination Reported for Other NECC Drugs

More drugs manufactured at the New England Compounding Center (NECC) – the compounding pharmacy at the heart of the deadly meningitis outbreak – have tested positive for various bacteria and fungi.

NBC News reports that lab tests by federal health officials found that three other drugs manufactured at NECC have contamination issues. The unopened vials were tainted with more than a dozen types of Bacillus bacteria and fungi species including two types of Aspergillus, as well as Cladosporium and Penicillum.

The three drugs confirmed to be contaminated include injection betamethasone, a steroid to treat inflammation; triamcinolone, for severe itching; and cardioplegia solution, which is used in heart surgery, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

There have been no reports confirmed to date of illnesses associated with these drugs but health officials are urging doctors and other care providers to be alert for possible fungal infection in patients that received these medications from NECC.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  previously found several types of Bacillus bacteria in two additional NECC drugs, according to NBC News.

NECC has been linked to the shots of methylprednisolone acetate that caused the fungal meningitis outbreak that has affected 541 people to date and killed 36 people from 19 states. Around 14,000 people had received the tainted injections. More than 60 percent of the infections reported now are not fungal meningitis but other infections such as arachnoiditis, reports NBC News.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a dangerous drug, contact Sokolove Law today for a free legal consultation and to find out if a dangerous drug lawyer may be able to help you.

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