Fungal infections associated with contaminated methylprednisolone in Tennessee.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We investigated an outbreak of fungal infections of the central nervous system that occurred among patients who received epidural or paraspinal glucocorticoid injections of preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate prepared by a single compounding pharmacy.

Methods

Case patients were defined as patients with fungal meningitis, posterior circulation stroke, spinal osteomyelitis, or epidural abscess that developed after epidural or paraspinal glucocorticoid injections. Clinical and procedure data were abstracted. A cohort analysis was performed.

Results

The median age of the 66 case patients was 69 years (range, 23 to 91). The median time from the last epidural glucocorticoid injection to symptom onset was 18 days (range, 0 to 56). Patients presented with

SUBMITTER: Kainer MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4669562 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature