Pharmacy Mix-up Causes Deadly Meningitis
June 13, 2001
Health officials in Walnut Creek, CA have linked a recent outbreak of bacterial meningitis to "Doc's," a small local pharmacy. Exposure to a steroid contaminated with serratia bacteria is the suspected cause of four cases of meningitis that have resulted in at least one death.
Approximately 40 patients at the Sierra SurgiCenter may have been exposed to the tainted medication. Of those exposed, just about half are being treated with antibiotics to prevent possible infection from the bacteria-tainted medication. Health officials zeroed in on betamethasone injections given at the medical center after four patients who received the injections later developed meningitis.
One death caused by the tainted medication has been confirmed. Another death is being investigated for a possible connection. Both of these men received epidural injections of betamethasone while at the SurgiCenter.
The serratia bacterium, which causes meningitis, is found everywhere. However, it is dangerous if it finds it way into spinal fluid or blood. Epidural injections of serratia-contaminated medication, like those received by the two men who died, can lead to serious illness.
Health officials have ordered hospitals and medical centers that received medications mixed at Doc's Pharmacy over the past six months to stop administering such medication. The State Board of Pharmacy also requested that Doc's immediately stop compounding medications at its facility.
Doc's Pharmacy has one citation in its State Board of Pharmacy file. The citation was issued in 1999 after a customer received the wrong medication when filling his prescription. There was no further disciplinary action taken regarding that incident. State officials are currently reviewing what actions should be taken with respect to the current situation.
State officials tested vials of betamethasone already mixed and waiting for sale at the pharmacy and found that they also contained the bacteria. Officials believe that pharmacy technicians mixed the tainted batch of medication. While technicians have the authority to do so under state law, the pharmacist retains ultimate responsibility for the technicians' actions and quality of work.
This latest incident will add fuel to the debate raging over private pharmacies compounding their own medications. These pharmacies are not subject to the same strict Federal guidelines as drug manufacturers. Regulation of private pharmacies is the states' responsibility but many states lack funding to enforce regulations.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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