Steroids Infected with Fungal Meningitis Passed on to Patients at Macon Surgery Center

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Nearly 200 patients of a Macon surgery center received spinal taps, that were contaminated with fungal meningitis. That same batch of steroids has claimed several lives across the United States, but so far, no cases have been reported in Georgia.

Director of the North Central Health District, Dr. David N. Harvey, says there’s no need to point the finger at anyone for injecting a 189 patients with a bad batch of steroids used to treat back pain.

“It was a tragic mistake, and we hope it isn’t tragic but it has the potential to be,” says Dr. Harvey.

The Forsyth Street Ambulatory Surgery Center received a batch of steroid medication prepared by The New England Compounding Center that was contaminated with fungal meningitis. Forsyth Street Orthopedics surgeon, Dr. Charles Richardson says they’ve been working to notify all of the at-risk patients.

“We’ve called all the patients dating back to July to be sure that they haven’t had any symptoms that have been described over the news and press.”

Dr. Harvey says 160 patients have been notifed. Doctors are still working to speak with 29, and six have been referred to physicians after complaining of mild meningitis symptoms. The disease isn’t contagious, and if caught early, both doctors say it’s treatable.

“We don’t want the public to be panicky, but we want the people who are at risk and again as we said try to say clearly there’s a limited number of people who got a limited type of treatment in one facility,” says Harvey.

Dr. Richardson says there’s no need to fear the facility, or the disease.

“We have no reason to believe that any of our patients are going to be sick.”

The tainted medicine has claimed five lives in the U.S. 43 cases have been identified. We will of course keep you updated if there are any reports in our area, but again, this disease is not infectious.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are 5 types of meningitis: viral, bacterial, parasitic, non-infectious, and the type in this outbreak, fungal.fungal meningitis is rare, and can be treated, but can also be fatal.

Signs and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, photo-phobia, which is sensitivity to light, and changes in your personality. Treatment for fungal meningitis involves a long round of anti-biotics, typically given in a hospital through an IV. If you think you’ve been infected, go to the doctor right away.