Posted: October 13, 2012
Four facilities in Ohio have been identifed by the CDC as having purchased and used the tainted steroid from the NECC. However news reports are seemingly contradictory whether the Cincinnati Pain Managment Center on Cornell road in Cincinnati, Ohio used the steroid. A press release issued by the Ohio department of Health stated in pertinent part: After the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notified ODH that tainted medication from the Mass. drug maker went to four Ohio healthcare facilities, state health officials have worked closely with the clinics, local health officials and the CDC to contact patients who may have received tainted medicine. The four clinics are Marion Pain Clinic and BKC Pain Specialists in Marion, Cincinnati Pain Management and Ortho-Spine Rehab Center in Dublin. Cincinnati.com reported with respect to Ohio cases the following: "Mike Samet, spokesman for Hamilton County Public Health, said his agency helped health departments in surrounding counties locate people who could possibly have been exposed to tainted medicine at Cincinnati Pain Management Consultants of Sycamore Township. That’s the region’s only facility identified as a recipient of shipments from New England Compounding Center, a Massachusetts company that recalled its products. A rare type of meningitis was found in people who received epidural injections of the company’s steroid medication. Federal health officials suspect the medication was tainted with fungus, but they say the original source of contamination had not been found. As of Monday, 105 people in nine states were diagnosed with the non-contagious brain infection; eight have died. Nationwide, about 13,000 patients may have been exposed to batches of preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate that are suspected of being linked to the outbreak, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said. That medication was distributed to about 75 facilities in 23 states. The list includes Ohio and Indiana but excludes Kentucky. Locally, health officials identified 200 Cincinnati Pain Management patients who may have been at risk; as of Monday, officials had questioned 193 of them about possible symptoms of meningitis. They made telephone calls and even went door-to-door, Samet said, sometimes enlisting help from police and ambulance crews to find people who needed to be alerted. Officials referred 56 patients to emergency rooms, mostly Bethesda North, for precautionary examinations. Only one person was strongly suspected of having meningitis, but that person’s tests came back negative, Samet said, adding, “There’s one case confirmed in the entire state of Ohio, and it’s not here.” Officials wouldn’t disclose the county of residence for that 65-year-old man, saying they wanted to protect his identity. On Friday (Oct 5), a doctor at the Sycamore Township clinic said it was doubtful any patients were injected with doses from New England Compounding Center because the clinic had stopped using that center’s products even before the meningitis concerns arose."
However further reports are contrary to the statement attributed to Cincinnati Pain Management
Further reporting on October 9th by WCPO.com indicated that: "An office manager with Cincinnati Pain Management said they are no longer using the potentially contaminated batch of medication. They are also continually following up with patients who were given the injection to make sure they are doing well. That batch of medication came from the New England Compounding Center, Inc." On October 11th Wcpo news person Bill Price reported that: The Ohio Department of Health has linked two more cases of meningitis to tainted steroid injections distributed by the New England Compounding Center, including one case in Hamilton County. The total number of cases in Ohio is now three, which includes an unnamed 65-year-old man from Springfield Township in Hamilton County. A 39-year-old woman from Morrow County and a 40-year-old woman from Crawford County have also contracted the disease. Each of the patients is reported to have contracted fungal meningitis after receiving steroid shots for back and joint pain. Hamilton County Public Health officials confirmed the Tri-State victim received an injection at Cincinnati Pain Management in Sycamore Township. He is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital, but no information on his condition has been released. The Associated Press reported on October 12th that: "One case was recently reported in the Tri-State. A Springfield Township man is currently being treated for fungal meningitis after receiving a tainted injection from Cincinnati Pain Management. Officials have not released any other details on his condition at this time." Although the Cincinnati Pain Management initially reportedly denied using the drug, it is now clear from the sources quoted that Cincinnati Pain Management had in fact used the drug which has allegedly infected a 65 year old man in Hamilton county. This initial denail is concerning in light of the further facts reported. Due to the long incubation period just because one injected with the tainted steroid has not felt symptoms does not mean that you will not be getting this symptoms. Even if you have not contracted meningitis but received the tainted steroid and had a lumbar punture that confirmed you were disease free you may still have a case against the New England Compounding Center or other entities that may be responsible. By Anthony Castelli Attorney personal injury attorney. Anthony is closely following the developments in the fungal meningitis health care crisis. He has spoken with attorneys in Tennessee and Minnesota and Indiana regarding the investigation ongoing. You can call 513-621-2345 or 1-800-447-6549 to see if you meet the criteria for the meningitis cases Anthony is willing to review and accept. The consultation is free and you can sit down directly with Anthony to discuss your options.