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The CDC has posted Friday’s update on the number of cases, and deaths, associated with contaminated steroid injections produced by a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy.
The highest risk period according to the CDC is within the first 6 weeks following injection. Since the suspect lots of steroids were identified and recalled a month ago, it is hoped the number of new cases will begin to decline in the next few weeks.
That said, no one knows for sure how long before a person can be declared `out of the woods’.
During a similar incident in 2002, one case did not develop signs of infection until nearly 6 months after exposure (see Revisiting An Earlier Fungal Meningitis Outbreak).
The CDC breaks down today’s numbers:
331 cases of fungal meningitis, stroke due to presumed fungal meningitis, or other central nervous system-related infection meeting the outbreak case definition, plus 7 peripheral joint infections (e.g., knee, hip, shoulder, elbow). No deaths have been associated with peripheral joint infections.
For more details on the ongoing investigation, and clinical and patient guidance documents, you can visit the CDC’s website:
Multistate Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Investigation
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