The compounding pharmacy whose steroid is linked to the recent fungal meningitis outbreak is under fire again. The FDA reports that several other drugs produced by the New England Compounding Center may be contaminated.
As part of the ongoing investigation into the center, a patient with possible meningitis has been identified who received injection of another NECC product, triamcinolone acetonide, the Food and Drug Administration said.
And fungus infections from Aspergillis, one fungus linked to the meningitis outbreak, were reported in two transplant patients who received cardioplegic solution from NECC, the FDA said. Cardioplegic solution is used to induce paralysis of the heart during open-heart surgery.
The other fungus linked to the meningitis outbreak is Exserohilum, which the CDC says may not be easily detectable. A patient with a negative fungal test is not in the clear, officials have said.
The FDA's alert, viewable
here, clarifies that there hasn't been confirmation yet that the NECC's other products caused the latest infections. Nonetheless, it thinks patients who took these drugs need to be on the lookout for infections.