Pritzker Hageman attorneys won $40,000,000 for clients injured by an unsafe product. They went on to help patients that were part of a fungal meningitis outbreak and resulting steroid recall. Our attorneys filed the first of several lawsuits against New England Compounding Center (NECC), the maker of steroid products linked to the outbreak, which had 198 CDC-confirmed cases, 15 of them fatal.
Based on steroid injection outbreak data collected by our team from a variety of sources, the firm has published answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the fungal meningitis outbreak:
Who’s at risk of getting meningitis?
According to the CDC, the only persons at risk of infection in this outbreak are those who received injections of methylprednisolone acetate from NECC between May 21 and Sept. 28, 2012 (the May 21 date may change). The epidurals in question have nothing to do with pregnancy and labor.
Where are people getting sick?
Tennessee, Michigan, Virginia, Indiana, Maryland, Florida, Minnesota, Ohio, North Carolina, New Jersey and many more states have the potential. Tennessee is the leading state, with 39 confirmed infections and six deaths.
How long does it take for illness to set in?
The incubation period for this type of fungal meningitis may be longer than previously reported. The range appears to be six to 42 days and some experts believe vigilance for up to three months from the date of the shot will be necessary.
Fungal meningitis symptoms?
Symptoms may be mild at first, including headache, fever, nausea, and stiffness of the neck, people with fungal meningitis may also experience confusion, dizziness, and discomfort from bright lights. Patients might just have one or two of these symptoms. Some patients in this outbreak have experienced strokes.
What is the implicated medicine?
Three lots of preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate (80mg/ml) recalled on September 26 by NECC, which promptly went out of business. The potentially contaminated injections were given starting May 21, 2012. NECC, a compound pharmacy in Framingham, Massachusetts, recalled all of its products.
Where was the implicated medicine distributed?
Thousands of doses were delivered to healthcare facilities in Tennessee, Virginia, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, California, Idaho, Texas, Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington D.C., North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
What’s wrong with the implicated vials?
Fungi. Case patients in the outbreak have been found to be infected with Aspergillus and Exserohilum, a fungus so rare that most physicians never see it in a lifetime of practicing medicine.
What clinics and hospitals received potentially contaminated NECC epidural steroids?
You can find a list of clinics on our New England Compounding Center Lawsuit post (a detailed list with phone numbers at bottom of that post). The products were distributed to the following states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
What should I do if I think I was injected with the recalled product?
Be vigilant for symptoms and immediately seek a clinical evaluation if you have the least concern about an infection. Treatment options vary and the medical community is working on recommended treatments.
Can I sue NECC and the clinic for meningitis linked to my epidural steroid injection?
Depending on the facts of your case and the results of tests being done by the FDA and state health officials, you should strongly consider a lawsuit to hold those who are responsible for your illness or the wrongful death of a family member accountable for negligence. A top-notch trial lawyer will look at every company in the line of distribution from factory to syringe for liability purposes.