The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has identified a 13th patient with a fungal infection following treatment with tainted injectable steroids made by the New England Compounding Center (NECC), a compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts. The patient is a female in her 20s and not currently hospitalized. Her infection is consistent with osteomyelitis, an infection that occurs inside the bone. One previous Minnesota case also had an infection of the bone. These kinds of infections are serious, often requiring surgery and strong antibiotics for long periods of time.
The Minnesota cases are part of a national outbreak of fungal infections (462 as of today) linked to tainted NECC steroid injections, specifically methylprednisolone acetate (MPA). The FDA and CDC found fungal contamination in two lots of the NECC MPA, “smoking gun” evidence that the NECC MPA caused the fungal infections.
Minnesota attorney Fred Pritzker is representing over 40 patients harmed by NECC MPA and filed one of the first lawsuits against NECC. He and his Bad Bug Law Team are providing FREE consultations here to patients who received NECC steroid shots from the following Twin Cities clinics: Medical Advanced Pain Specialists (MAPS) in Edina, Fridley, Maple Grove and Shakopee and the Minnesota Surgery Center (MSC) in Edina and Maple Grove.
In the weeks since discovery of the massive NECC fungal infection outbreak, much of the news has centered on the company’s long history of corporate malfeasance including its disregard of sterility tests, preparation of medication in unsanitary conditions and systematic violation of its pharmacy license. The company’s willful (and potentially criminal conduct) was abetted by regulatory inaction of such magnitude that one official charged with overseeing the company has already been fired, James D. Coffey, Director of the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy.
As they always do, the lurid details and public ire will fade from memory as the news cycle shifts to the next debacle. But for the people sickened by this poisoned medication and the families of the 32 dead, the memories will not fade, the physical damage will not vanish and the emotional scars will not heal. NECC, the clinics that used the tainted drugs and others need to be held accountable.
Our law firm represents TM and other victims of this massive outbreak. You can contact Fred and his team at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or by submitting our free consultation form found here.
