The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare has identified nine Idaho medical facilities that received potentially contaminated injectable drugs from a New England compounding pharmacy, and they include Boise's two biggest hospitals, St. Luke's and St. Al's, along with facilities in Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, Pocatello, Burley and Coeur d'Alene. None have reported any illnesses among their patients, but they are contacting patients treated with the drugs to ask them to report any symptoms of infection or meningitis. Click below for the full announcement from Health & Welfare.

www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov

NEWS RELEASE--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                 DATE: Oct. 17, 2012

Patients Who Received Drugs Being Investigated
Are Asked to Report Infection Symptoms

The Division of Public Health has notified all nine Idaho medical facilities that have received injectable drugs from New England Compounding Center (NECC) since May 2012, which are part of an expanded recall. None of the medical facilities are currently aware of any illnesses among their patients who received these medications; however, they are contacting patients treated with the drugs and asking them to report any symptoms for infection or meningitis.

The nine clinics are:

·         Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center (Boise)

·         St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center (Boise)

·         Idaho Eye Care Center (Idaho Falls)

·         Walker Spine & Sports Specialists (Idaho Falls)

·         Idaho Eye Care Center (Pocatello)

·         St. Luke’s Magic Valley Regional Medical Center (Twin Falls)

·         Ambulatory Surgery Center of Burley (Burley)

·         North Idaho Pain Center (Couer d’Alene)

·         Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine (Coeur d’Alene)

These nine providers are in addition to two medical facilities that received NECC epidural steroid injections suspected of causing a national outbreak of fungal meningitis; Walter Knox Memorial Hospital in Emmett and Pain Specialists of Idaho in Idaho Falls.

The nine clinics did not receive the NECC epidural steroid injections that have been associated with cases of meningitis and other illnesses around the country, but they did receive steroid and other injections used for various medical treatments. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded its investigation of possibly contaminated pharmaceuticals produced by NECC beyond the epidural steroids to include injectable drugs used for joint pain and during heart and eye surgeries. At this time, no illnesses associated with the expanded list of NECC injectable drugs have been confirmed. It is not known how many patients may be affected.

One eastern Idaho resident over the age of 60 is being treated for fungal meningitis that is tied to the outbreak. He is currently responding well to treatment. Nationally, 233 illnesses are being investigated, including 15 deaths.

For additional information about the CDC investigation, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/meningitis.html

 

 

 

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