As you may be aware, a rare type of meningitis is spreading through the state of Maryland. This rare type has been found to be linked to spinal injections for back pain. Specifically speaking, patients who have visited certain facilities between July 30th and September 28th were potentially exposed to a steroid drug that was contaminated with a fungus, Aspergillus. The steroid was mostly used as an epidural (spinal) injection for back pain, but some patients may have received the injection in other joints: knees, ankles, and shoulders.
Our public health community is working with physicians to locate all persons who may be affected, including some 300 individuals who received orthopedic treatment from Greenspring Surgery Center at Quarry Lake. Please note that Maryland Pain Specialists of Towson have stated that no patients of theirs received spinal injections of the compromised steroid.
If there is any question in your mind about whether you received the contaminated injection, please contact your doctor immediately. This form of meningitis, unlike bacterial or viral, is NOT contagious. Health officials advise that those infected may experience symptoms of fever, headache, neck, stiffness, photophobia, nausea, or vomiting. And be aware that the gestation period can be more than four weeks.
On October 17th, Reuters reported that FDA agents raided the company and had announced that they will be expanding their investigation of the outbreak to other drugs that were produced by the pharmacy. If you believe that you or a loved one has been sickened due to contaminated steroid shots, call me directly for legal guidance and assistance.