The Federal Drug Administration has listed 133 medical centers in Illinois and another 81 in Wisconsin as customers of the company linked to a nation-wide outbreak of fungal meningitis.
The New England Compounding Center, based in Framingham, Massachusetts, is being investigated for producing a steroid shot contaminated with the fungus. Two dozen people have been killed and 300 have fallen ill during the outbreak. Now the FDA is notifying the company’s customers (hospitals and clinics) that there are other medications that need to be recalled as well. The Illinois Department of Public Health also released a recall notice this week.On October 6th, the New England Compounding Center announced it was voluntarily recalling all products produced at its Framingham facility.
There are 133 Illinois customers listed on the state list. In northern Illinois, that includes Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb, OSF St. Anthony Hospital and Rockford Health Physicians in Rockford, and Sherman Hospital and Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin.
Shipments also went to Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital in Dixon, FHN Hospital in Freeport, and CGH Medical Center in Sterling.
There are 81 Wisconsin customers listed on the state list, including Beloit Memorial Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital in Janesville and the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics in Madison.
For a complete list by state of the medical facilities that may have been shipped products from the New England Compounding Center: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/FungalMeningitis/default.htm
For a complete list sorted by the type of medications involved:
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/FungalMeningitis/UCM325466.pdf
For advice from the FDA regarding the outbreak, including symptoms to watch for: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/FungalMeningitis/default.htm