Hospital acquired fungal meningitis

An interactive tool for tracking the outbreak is available through Health Intelligence.

Update from the Boston Globe Liz Kowalczyk: Visible mold was found in the vials in green globs or white hairs.  Mold was also growing on materials in the NECC.  Mold was found in the clean rooms used for preparation.  The lab was using non sterile materials and located adjacent to a recyling center.

Mike Stobbe from AP reports on theories about how the steroids got contaminated.  An additional fungus, Exerohilium spp. has been implicated

NBC news reports on Fungal Meningtitis sickens 12, kills 2 at at outpatient treatment centers in Tennessee and North Carolina.  Patients received lumbar epidural injections contaminated with Aspergillus spp. 

CNN reports that the Meningitis outbreak has spread to 5 states with 4 dead.  It is linked to Aspergillus contamination of Methylprednisone acetate.

Video is available from USA Today

The FDA has  Id'd the (NECC) NEW England Compounding Center as the source.

Aspergillus fumigatus - photo N. Carlson

The CDC has a fact sheet on Fungal Meningitis.  It is rare but can be life threatening.

Summary of NECC indictment - 7 minutes