October 9, 2012
With as many as 13,000 patients across the United States potentially receiving contaminated steroid injections, experts say the number of infected individuals is expected to continue to rise. The Odessa American says at least 114 Texans were exposed to the deadly aspergillus meningitis fungus at two Texas medical facilities when they received injections for back pain treatment.
Both the Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Southlake and Dallas Back Pain Management received lots of the preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate manufactured by New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Massachusetts. The nearly 18,000 doses of the drug that were distributed in 23 states, used to treat patients suffering from back pain, have been connected with at least eight deaths and 105 patients being sickened with the fungal form of Meningitis.
While no cases of infection have been reported yet by the Texas patients, officials have instructed individuals who received the injections to watch for symptoms of the drug injury, including stroke-like symptoms, headache, nausea, fever and dizziness. The symptoms are caused by swelling in the brain and spinal cord brought on by the fungal infection and can often result in death.
The drug injury lawyers at Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel would encourage anyone who becomes ill after receiving an injection that was contaminated with a harmful substance or organism to discuss your legal rights with an experience attorney to help ensure you get the care you need and deserve.